Liverpool star Luis Diaz is one of the wingers Barcelona approached last summer in an attempt to secure his signature.
The Catalan giants’ sporting director, Deco, is a big admirer of the Colombian and believes his playing style would fit perfectly into the team, particularly on the left wing.
Negotiations with Liverpool did not materialise at the time though, but the Colombian forward could be available on the market from June, piquing the interest of Barça.
Barcelona back in the hunt for Luis Diaz
Indeed, according to Colombia’s Antena2, as relayed by SPORT, negotiations to improve and extend his contract with Liverpool have failed, and Diaz is now likely to seek a move, with his clear priority being a transfer to Barcelona.
The Colombian winger joined Liverpool in January 2022, but his salary has since become outdated. He currently earns around €3 million net per year and is seeking a pay rise to reflect his importance to the team.
Back on Barcelona’s radars. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
However, Liverpool are facing financial fair play issues and are also dealing with new contract negotiations with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, leading to Diaz’s situation taking a backseat and opening the doors for an exit.
AC Milan has made signing Diaz a priority, provided they manage to make some sales this summer. However, PSG and Barcelona, the two clubs that tried to sign him last summer, are also monitoring the situation.
Barça are in the market for a left-winger who can make a difference and their wishlist includes names such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Rafael Leao (AC Milan) and Nico Williams (Athletic Club). Now, Diaz’s name also appears to have been added.
Liverpool, for their part, do not want to part with the 27-year-old, but are not prepared to make significant efforts to keep him. The key to the deal could lie in the transfer fee.
The English giants are demanding €80 million, which could be an issue for Barcelona.