Liverpool’s Colombian winger Luis Diaz’s recent scintillating display against Man City at Anfield has again thrust the player into the spotlight as a potential target for many of Europe’s big clubs as they formulate their transfer lists for the summer.
After the Liverpool star did everything but score in the top-of-the-table Premier League clash, running City’s Kyle Walker ragged in the second half, UK football bookmakers have been placed on alert regarding possible movements for The Reds’ number 7.
Diaz was instrumental in helping Liverpool’s Premier League title odds shorten to 19/10 on the back of a dominant latter-period display that left Man City (5/4) unable to stem the attacking tide. But for a disputed VAR decision not to award a stoppage-time penalty to the hosts, the title odds could be looking somewhat different at present.
The most notable interest in Liverpool’s left-sided talisman comes from Spanish giants FC Barcelona, with the Catalan club’s president having recently met with the agent of the 27-year-old ex-Porto player.
Barca Interest
Colombian media source El Heraldo reports that Joan Laporta, the president of the La Liga giants, and Diaz’s agent Carlos Van Strahlen met for ‘dinner last week’ to discuss a potential future move to the Catalan capital. The recent report only fuels the fire lit by the Liverpool speedster’s father, who previously let slip that a transfer to Barcelona would be a dream move for his son.
While Laporta was interested in Diaz’s ‘contractual situation’, the El Heraldo report says the elite Barcelona representative left the meeting dissatisfied, saying any future deal was ‘not feasible’ due to the Merseyside club wanting between £102m and £120m for its in-form forward.
The 27-time La Liga champions are in a well-publicized weak financial position through years of accumulated debt, so any bid of that value for the Colombian, capped 45 times for his country, would require current players to be sold first to cover the amount.
How Diaz’s Future Could Depend on Salah
It’s no secret that Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future is by no means secure in the wake of the £150 million offer received by Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad last year. Jurgen Klopp is departing at the EPL season’s end, and Salah’s contract expires a season later. With the Egyptian superstar’s injury woes more frequent, another large bid for Salah would test Liverpool’s FSG owner’s resolve.
Should Salah depart Anfield in the summer, the chances of Luis Diaz doing likewise are exceptionally remote. While Liverpool insiders have described Diaz, with 57 appearances and 14 goals in his Merseyside career, as fitting into Liverpool’s long-term plans, the Anfield management change could alter this perspective.
If Salah does depart, it’s difficult to see any new manager allowing The Reds’ regular left-wing starter to follow without securing a suitable replacement. With Klopp leaving, further personnel changes are possible at Anfield, especially with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also entering the final year of their contracts.
Much will depend on the new Liverpool manager’s gameplan and vision, but it’s unlikely that Luis Diaz will leave for anything less than the competitive price mentioned, if at all.
