Arne Slot was reportedly overruled on the sale of Luis Diaz during the summer transfer window, with the Liverpool head coach apparently keen to keep hold of the Colombia international.
Liverpool's squad was overhauled in the off-season, with Diaz among the key players from last season to move on to a new club. And while Diaz has flourished at Bayern Munich, his old club has failed to hit the heights it scaled last term, with Reds head coach Slot coming under scrutiny for the team's recent struggles.
Liverpool's many departures over the summer made way for a host of high-profile signings, but all of them – Hugo Ekitike aside – have been hugely disappointing for a variety of reasons.
Among many things that the Reds are currently missing is Diaz's directness in attack, and Caught Offside is reporting that his exit came as a disappointment to Slot.
The report says that Slot pushed for Diaz to be handed a new contract at Anfield, but sporting director Richard Hughes did not see the value in handing the winger a lucrative deal, and opted to cash in when Bayern presented the Reds with an attractive offer.
Diaz's deal was due to expire in the summer of 2027, but he was significantly underpaid relative to his standing in the squad, and the 28-year-old was keen to secure a lucrative deal at this stage in his career.
Diaz is believed to have more than quadrupled his salary with his move to Bayern, and the Bavarian club is being rewarded for showing faith in the former Porto star, with Diaz having registered 11 goals and five assists across 18 appearances in all competitions.
Luis Diaz of Bayern Munich
Luis Diaz has been brilliant since joining Bayern Munich (Image: Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Liverpool and Real Madrid are both said to be confident that Ibrahima Konate will be playing for their team next season.
Konate's current contract at Anfield is due to expire at the end of the season, and Madrid is reportedly considering him as a possible free agent signing.
TEAMtalk says that Madrid is growing in confidence over its chances of landing Konate, but Liverpool also thinks it is in a strong position in talks over a contract extension for the France international.
Konate's performances on the pitch have left much to be desired in recent weeks, and his place in the team could be under threat when Liverpool travels to West Ham this weekend, with Joe Gomez waiting in the wings.