Liverpool rejected a bid of £ 58.5 million transfer from Bayern Munich in the midst of Luis Diaz's wish to leave Anfield, but the Bundesliga champions have been warned to sign him
Former Liverpool and Bayern Munich -star Dietmar Hamann have encouraged his old club to leave their aim of Luis Diaz. The Colombian is supposed to have told Liverpool that he wants to leave the club and be open to Bayern.
But that did not prevent the Reds from rejecting an £ 58.5 million from the German giants earlier this week. Diaz, 28, has two years on his contract and remains an important player for Arne Slot, who made 50 performances last season.
Although Barcelona is strongly connected to the left wing player, Bayern took the first step by submitting an offer. The Bundesliga champions want to sign at least one attacker this summer, after he had seen Leroy Sane leave for Galatasaray when his contract expires and Jamal Musiala suffers a broken leg and only disrupted during a horrible incident at the World Cup club.
But they must avoid Diaz, according to Hamann. In conversation with Sky Germany, the ex-liverpool and Bayern midfielder expressed his concern about signing the former Porto star, which moved to Anfield in January 2022 for £ 37.5 million.
Hamann asked: “To bring in Luis Diaz now, a 28 -year -old South – American who played 50 games for four or five years and who has long flights home – which is also a problem – to pay 70 or 80 million for that, while the sales value is zero because he would be 32 at the end of his contract, I wonder what they even have the campus [academy] for?”
Instead of Diaz, Hamann recommends that Bayern ex-Brighton signs right winger Brajan Gruda. The 21-year-old came to Mainz last summer and is impressed by both the Bundesliga and the recent European championship under 21 for Germany.
“I would get Gruda,” said Hamann, who came through Bayern's Academy before making more than 100 performances at senior level. “For me he is one of the best German players. He was injured for a long time, but played very well towards the end of the season. Gruda can play on the outside and in the middle. He would be my first option.”
Although Diaz is open to Bayern, his agent reportedly met the sports director of Barcelona, Deco. During an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1, Deco confirmed their interest in both the Liverpool Forward and Marcus Rashford.
Do you agree with Dietmar Hamann? Say in the commentary part.
“We love Luis, we love Rashford, and we love other players,” said Deco. “Out of respect, talking about players who have contraction with other clubs is complicated. When we go to the market, there are names that we know that the team can improve.”
Barca manager Hansi Flick also responded towards the end of last season: “I don't want to talk about players who are not in my team, but of course Luis Diaz and Marcus Rashford are fantastic players. I like them and we will see what happens.”