The rumour mill is working overtime around Yan Diomande, and even the Ivory Coast manager is having a laugh about it.

Emerse Fae couldn't resist a chuckle when asked about his star winger's future after the Elephants beat Ecuador 1-0 in their World Cup clash in Philadelphia. The RB Leipzig teenager has been linked with moves to both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, and Fae has clearly heard all the whispers.

"When we were in France, during the preparation, journalists told me he was about to sign with PSG," Fae said with obvious amusement. "Here, they tell me he's about to sign with Liverpool!"

The 19-year-old certainly gave Liverpool scouts plenty to think about if they were watching. Diomande had more touches than any of his teammates and completed four dribbles as the Elephants secured victory thanks to a late strike from Manchester United's Amad Diallo. For a lad who's supposedly got one eye on his next move, he looked pretty focused on the task at hand.

Fae was quick to praise the youngster's attitude, which should be music to Liverpool ears if they're serious about bringing him to Anfield. "I don't know, but for now, he will focus on the World Cup, and then afterwards, he can think about the rest of his career," the manager explained.

"Yan - what can I say? I can't put it into words. He's very talented, but beyond the talent, he's very young and he'll improve. He's a kid who works hard, has a real team spirit, laughs with everyone, and he listens, listens to the technical staff whenever he's given advice, and tries to do his best, as he's told."

That's exactly the kind of character Liverpool look for. Talent is one thing, but the willingness to learn and improve is what separates good players from great ones. Fae certainly seems convinced about Diomande's potential: "It's easy to work with someone like Yan, he's so talented and has what is needed, plus he can give you the victory and was a real challenge for Hincapie, a Champions League finalist."

The Reds are desperately searching for pace in wide areas after Mohamed Salah's departure at the end of the campaign, and Diomande fits the profile perfectly. His standout season in the Bundesliga has caught the attention of Europe's elite, though Leipzig remain reluctant to let their teenage sensation leave.

Talks are ongoing, which suggests this isn't just paper talk. When clubs are actually sitting around tables discussing numbers, things tend to get serious quickly. The fact that both Liverpool and PSG are circling shows just how highly rated this lad is across the continent.

There's also the small matter of Diomande's representation situation. He joined Roc Nation Sports back in February, with rap superstar Jay Z even catching up with him before kick-off in Philadelphia. But his previous representatives, Maxidel Management, have since taken legal action, claiming he's still contracted to them. That's the kind of complication that can either speed up or completely derail transfer negotiations.

Fae was clearly impressed with how his team grew into the match against Ecuador, particularly in the second half. "In the second half, we took more risks, were more concentrated, made fewer individual mistakes. Plus, we have great attacking players, like Yan, like Amad, and they were able to get more on the ball, push Ecuador back."

For Liverpool, the appeal is obvious. Here's a 19-year-old who's already proven himself in one of Europe's top leagues, handles pressure on the international stage, and has the kind of attitude that suggests he'll only get better. The question now is whether they can navigate the complexities of his representation issues and convince Leipzig to do business.

With the World Cup providing the perfect shop window, don't be surprised if this saga picks up pace once the tournament concludes.