Liverpool have started contract negotiations for the next Luis Diaz.

It’s the end of an era for Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s superstars have been trickling out over the past few years, but Mohamed Salah’s free transfer this summer feels like a turning point heralding a new chapter for Anfield.

The King of Egypt did not enjoy his final season and it was not one worthy of his legendary status. Still, history will be kind to Salah at Anfield Road. Salah is the man who brought Liverpool back to its status, won two Premier League titles, and won the Champions League.

However, Salah is currently 33 years old. He lost a yard and lost a pop in a key offensive moment. His return to the league this season reflects his basic metrics as well, as he only won 24% of his dribbles and 29% of his duels.

It is probably the right time for him to move, but Liverpool can’t afford to repeat last year’s mistake with Luis Diaz, who sold the Colombian winger to Bayern Munich for £65.6m but failed to adequately replace him.

Liverpool plan to replace Mo Salah

Sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG head of football Michael Edwards are ready to rectify Liverpool’s problems this summer.

To achieve this, Slott must be given enough attacking quality to return to the forefront of domestic and European football.

Salah will be back by the end of the season, but won’t be next year, and while the Reds have a number of targets in mind, including the unlikely Michael Olysse and RB Leipzig upstart Yann Diomande, FSG often prefer to take the road less traveled.

Francisco Trincao is on FSG’s radar ahead of the summer season, with Anfield Index saying that path could lead to Sporting CP. In fact, serious investigations are underway into the Portugal international, and it has been suggested that negotiations are already underway.

Trincao, 26, signed a new contract last month which includes a release clause of €60m (equivalent to £52m) and has attracted interest from Liverpool.

Why Trincao is Liverpool’s new Dias

Trincao has had ups and downs throughout his career, and although he joined Barcelona in 2020, he was unable to make the grade. But like many before him, he found a home in Portugal and built himself up. Elite costumes are now available.

If Liverpool were to sign him, it would mirror the move they made for Dias in January 2022, when they signed Porto’s high-profile winger for £37.5m.

Dias won a silver medal for Liverpool during his three-and-a-half years in England, but the 28-year-old was sold last summer after efforts to renew his contract failed.

Now, Trincao could repeat that trick. He has been involved in 30 goals in all competitions this season and is joint top of La Liga in terms of assists (11) with Estoril’s Joao Carvalho.

After all, Trincao went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in this season’s Champions League, scoring four goals, registering three assists and also scoring with crisp regularity.

He was once praised by Tim Spiers of The Athletic.can’t believe it“While developing his talent at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Trincao now has the solid skills to excel in the Premier League, winning 4.2 duels per game and completing 62% of his dribbles in Europe.”

In that respect, he shares a combativeness and forward-thinking approach with shades of Dias from his Liverpool heyday. The 29-year-old forms part of a devastating front line at Bayern, but his departure from Merseyside has left a huge hole in the slot squad that needs to be filled.

Normally playing on the right-wing, Trincao is essentially a replacement for Salah, but his quick feet and ability to balance goals and assists could allow him to develop into a Dias-like talent rather than emulating Liverpool’s versatile Egyptian.

Although Trincao’s name is not on fans’ lips, Liverpool have found something to like about the Portuguese playmaker and could play a role in their title-challenging side next year.