Barcelona are beginning to go through the motions as they plot how to extract Luis Diaz from Liverpool despite reports that they cannot afford him.
The Colombian was an integral part of Liverpool’s 20th league title triumph and attempts from any supporters to downplay his importance are misplaced.
Liverpool, for their part, do not want to sell him but their reluctance to offer him a deserved bumper deal will force the issue whether or not they like it.
Either Diaz is a world class player with a high market value deserving of a new contract or he is not as important as Liverpool deem him to be.
They can’t simultaneously claim that he is not worthy of a lucrative contract – with his wages reportedly set at £55,000 per week – and hold out for a massive transfer fee.
Barcelona will attempt, in my opinion, to argue that if Diaz isn’t worthy of a contract between £150-250,000 per week then he cannot also be worth the reported €80m (£68m) Liverpool are demanding from Barcelona and clubs from the Pro League.
That said, Diaz doesn’t seem to be agitating to leave as he seemed to suggest last week in an interview.
The 28-year-old said: “I’m very, very happy in Liverpool. From day one, they’ve made me feel really welcome.
“Right now we’re in contact with them because we’re speaking with [other] clubs. It’s normal, the market is open, and we’re trying to sort out what’s best for us.
“I am just waiting to see what happens. If Liverpool doesn’t make a good offer, I still have two years left with them, I would be happy and content to stay there.
“And that’s it — everything depends on them, obviously. It’s up to me to decide what’s best for us and the future.”
Barcelona remain determined to sign the Colombian national team talisman with claims from Spain suggesting that Diaz has now had a change of heart and wants to make the move to Camp Nou after all.
Barcelona give the “green light” to initiate “Operation Luis Diaz” amid Liverpool’s apparent conflict over new contract
According to Spanish newspaper SPORT, via the Daily Mail, Barcelona are “convinced” that they will land Luis Diaz as they begin making moves behind the scenes to approve what is being labelled “Operation Luis Diaz.”
The Spanish press does often err on the side of hyperbole but there does seem to be a lot of confidence in the latest slew of reports concerning the Colombian but SPORT claims that “manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco have both given the green light for the transfer”.
The value of a supposed move to sign Diaz will likely not meet Liverpool’s liking but as I already established, Barcelona will likely try to reduce the price by any means necessary.
Diaz has reportedly “made up his mind” since comments last week about staying at the club but Liverpool will likely stand firm on their asking price given they have just committed themselves to a minimum £100m fee for Florian Wirtz and a £355,000 per week wage, FSG will want to recoup every possible penny they can from this summer’s sales.
As an added take, it will likely also mean sales take longer than usual this summer as Liverpool will be tasking Hughes with ensuring maximum profit from exits. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Michael Edwards doesn’t lead exit talks.