Liverpool and Bayern Munich are in advanced discussions regarding the transfer of winger Luis Diaz, with reports indicating an agreed fee of £65.5 million ($88 million), including add-ons.
Diaz was absent during Liverpool’s friendly match against AC Milan over ongoing transfer speculation concerning his future at Anfield this summer.
Insiders revealed to ESPN that the Colombian international is keen to leave Liverpool during this transfer window.
“There have been numerous rumors surrounding him recently, but I cannot comment much,” Slot stated at the post-match press conference with AC Milan. “He has been training excellently with us, but we’ve decided not to field him for the time being.”
Slot acknowledged that he had conversations with Diaz about the situation, remarking, “I regularly communicate with most of my players.”
“Lucio (Diaz) trains very well; however, we’ve decided against playing him for now, and I can’t comment further on that.”
Regarding Diaz’s intentions to leave Liverpool, Slot remarked, “That’s not a question he has raised with me.”
Throughout the summer, Liverpool has been keenly observing potential transfers, notably rebuffing advances from both Barcelona and Bayern, stating those players are unavailable.
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ESPN’s sources also mentioned that Liverpool turned down a €67.5 million offer from Bayern earlier this month.
Last season, Diaz had the most successful campaign of his career, netting 17 goals across all competitions and winning the Premier League title under Slot’s management.
The forward joined Liverpool from FC Porto in January 2022, signing a contract until 2027.
His potential exit could help offset some of Liverpool’s significant spending this summer, as they have invested approximately £290 million on players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremy Flippin, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Hugo Ekitike.
Fan Take: This news is pivotal as it highlights Liverpool’s shifting dynamics and the potential impact of Diaz’s exit. For fans, it raises questions about squad depth and the club’s strategy moving forward, making every transfer window a critical event in the soccer calendar.