Luis Diaz’s future continues to be a major talking point this summer, despite Liverpool having made its stance clear - he’s going nowhere.
With the Reds entering the next phase of their summer transfer plans, which is likely to see a number of Arne Slot’s squad members making way, Diaz has been touted as one of those who could be offloaded.
Rumors of a move to Barcelona have followed him for over a year now - rumors that were fueled by his father admitting his son is a fan of the Catalan club. Having had an approach rejected last month though, the La Liga champion now looks to have moved on to Nico Williams, and it looks unlikely Diaz will get that dream move.
Barca isn’t the only club to have shown interest though. Saudi Arabia has been touted as a potential destination, as it is for practically every player now, while Bayern Munich has emerged as a serious contender in recent days.
And it seems the German giant has stepped up its attempts to sign Diaz, having followed Barcelona’s lead in making an approach to Liverpool.
The Reds have stood firm though, and once again rejected the offer, with The Times’ Paul Joyce reporting that Bayern sporting director Max Eberl has been told Diaz is not for sale - just as Deco was told last month.
Diaz himself has never publicly shown a desire to leave Liverpool, and back in May, he suggested he could be looking at extending his stay at Anfield.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez celebrate with the Premier League trophy as Liverpool are crowned champions
Liverpool has rejected approaches from Barcelona and Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Since the first day I arrived, I’ve always been happy, calm, enjoying the football played at this great team,” Diaz said two months ago.
“We’ll be talking about it [about renewing], we’ll talk about it. For me, I’d stay however many years it takes.
“It also depends on the club, everything. These are details that are worked out separately. But I’m very calm, happy and enjoying the Premier League.”
Just a month later, that stance had changed a little. Diaz was still happy at Liverpool, although now there was an admission that he was weighing up his options.
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"I’m very happy at Liverpool," Diaz said last month while on international duty. "They’ve treated me well since the first day.
"We’re talking with other clubs. It’s the transfer window, it’s normal. If Liverpool renews my contract, or if I have to stay the two years I have left, I’ll be happy. It’s up to them."
Since then though, it has emerged that Liverpool has no plans of extending Diaz’s contract this summer. This could be for a number of reasons - being 28, he wouldn’t be in line for a long-term extension under FSG’s usual methods, and the Reds have priorities elsewhere, namely in the transfer window and Ibrahima Konate’s future.
That has led to reports back in Colombia that Diaz is upset with Liverpool, raising further questions over his future. With the Reds taking a firm stance though, it seems he will be staying put at Anfield.