Liverpool agreed a £ 65.5 million deal with Bayern Munich to sell Luis Diaz and the departure of the winger is expected to finance an offer for Newcastle star Alexander Isak
When Luis Diaz arrived in Liverpool in January 2022, his smile illuminated the training field. The then Boss Jurgen Klopp admitted that he had not seen anyone that had enjoyed so much training as the Colombians.
After he had moved earlier than expected that he would land him from Porto because Tottenham was sniffing, the Reds got a new weapon in a campaign in which they fought for four trophies. Diaz was a major role in their competition and FA Cup successes, while they missed the Premier League due to a point of Manchester City and members of Champions League -Heart against Real Madrid in Paris.
But it was how fast he decided that surprised the most. Then Captain Jordan Henderson even noticed how fast he was, pretty quickly, feet at the club. With 41 goals and 16 assists in 148 games, as well as a Premier League title and another competition cup for the aforementioned trophies, Diaz has undoubtedly been a successful purchase for £ 37.5 million.
Now he goes on his way to the starting door, he must be replaced. But does he already have? Diaz under Arne Slot has been more versatile than the left wing player under Klopp.
When Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were not available last season, he would be used by the middle. Slot wants a front line that can move. He often frustrated a problem with the end product, but he could be deadly as he showed a hat trick against Bayer Leverkusen in November and a brace against Manchester United in Old Trafford in September.
Now Liverpool has already agreed a £ 79 million deal to bring in Hugo Ekitike and he finds his feet during the summer tour in Asia, which Diaz has just left. It should be noted that Liverpool believes that the striker of France under 21 is able to play in more places than one in the first three.
Ekitike is not the replacement of Nunez for when he is expected to leave later this summer. Ekitike is the versatile attacker to replace Diaz, it seems. That is why Liverpool stays on red alert when it comes to Alexander Isak. Because the Sweden Hitman is the man they want if their new no. 9 when Nunez leaves.
If Newcastle is now unable to admit that it is not for sale, Liverpool is happy with Ekitike in the middle. Of course they also have Cody Gakpo on the left and teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha, even at only 16, starts to push.
How much does Liverpool have to pay for Alexander Isak? Say in the commentary part.
But if they could land Isak in the coming weeks, even if it will take a British transfer record offer and admit the Magpies, Slot will believe that he will have a much more flowing forward line, as well as a deadly.
They know that Ekitike is a promise, while Isak is a striker who has proven itself in the Premier League. Yet they change while they have options left and right (many believe that Jeremie Frimpong is more backup for Mo Salah than a threat to Conor Bradley right-back), the Reds are building a new-look front line that is more flexible than the previous one.
Why does Liverpool sanction the sale of Diaz Another question when he too can be flexible in his positioning? Well, it became clear to them 12 months ago that Colombian, although still smiled brightly, made his head run.
They tried twice to secure him under a new contract, but the differences in salary requirements and expectations were too much. Liverpool wanted to be strong this season.
Earlier in the summer their position Diaz was not for sale, but Bayern Munich proved that everyone is for sale for the right price, whereby their bid of £ 65.1 million was accepted. The Reds will hope that Newcastle's attitude will change in a similar way.