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Liverpool face battle for SHOCK £66m Luis Diaz replacement

Liverpool have been magnificent in attack this season, scoring a whopping 49 goals in just 21 matches.

While Mohamed Salah has taken on plenty of responsibility once again, the returns have been shared across the forward line.

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Specifically on the left-hand side of the pitch, Luis Diaz (nine goals) and Cody Gakpo (eight goals) have been tearing it up this season, battling it out for game time, while producing their best when an opportunity arose.

As such Arne Slot has got an endless supply of goals, with all of his forwards getting in on the act, and the team is benefiting substantially by leading the way in the Champions League and the Premier League.

The only slant on Liverpool's form is the ongoing contract negotiations with Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk. The trio are yet to be tied down beyond this season and soon Liverpool will have the contracts of Ibrahima Konate and Diaz.

While Liverpool are comfortable relying on Gakpo at left wing, and while Diaz remains frustrated with the club's low-ball offer for an extension, there is potential that he may end up elsewhere next season.

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Diaz out the door

Before the season started, one of Liverpool's main outgoing rumours was that Diaz was heading out the door.

At the time a report came out that Manchester City were monitoring him - although they ended up moving for Savinho instead - and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was a possible incoming transfer, although he has since signed a new contract.

There is nothing to suggest that the Colombian is unhappy at the club, but Liverpool's depth at left wing will only last so long before one of the pair wants greater guarantees that they will play regularly.

In addition, ever since Diaz moved to Liverpool in 2022, he has remained on the same wages and is one of the lowest-paid stars in Arne Slot's side.

His current deal runs out in 2027 and both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are reportedly waiting to pounce if talks of an extended deal with improved terms fail to come to fruition.

Kenan Yildiz as a potential replacement

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are one of the main clubs interested in Kenan Yildiz from Juventus.

While the 19-year-old is reportedly happy where he is, a price of €80million (£66m) would be enough to open negotiations with the Serie A giants.

The article cites Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund as the competing clubs for Yildiz's signature and the claim is that if he went to Liverpool then he could be an ideal replacement for Mohamed Salah.

However, Yildiz is capable of playing across the front three and this season he has been mostly effective on the left wing, making him a possible replacement for Diaz as well, if the Colombian were to leave.

The Turkish international only has four goals and two assists to his name this season for Juventus, but he is widely regarded as one of the top-rising talents in world football.

The report makes clear that 'Yildiz looks like the calibre of player the Reds should be moving for', and it is hard to disagree.

For the time being, no Liverpool forward is going anywhere and with five of them all currently doing the business for them this season, it is unlikely that the Reds will see any departures by choice.

Salah could potentially leave if his contract is not sorted in the near future, but that would be a decision the club would likely make begrudgingly.

Until the situation gets any clearer, we will be none the wise as to who may be on their way into or out of the club, but it is at least positive news that Liverpool have their finger on the pulse of the rising talents in world football.

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