The future of Luis Diaz at Liverpool is dependent on what happens with Mohamed Salah this summer, according to a new transfer update.
Diaz moved to Anfield in January 2022, sealing a move from Porto and making an immediate difference to Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Since then, the Colombian has continued to be an important attacking player for Liverpool, even if he has never quite reached a world-class level.
In fact, some reports this season have claimed that Arne Slot has grown frustrated with him, along with the likes of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
It has thrown Diaz and his two Liverpool teammates’ futures into doubt, and a new update from Sport has shed further light on the situation.
They report that Salah’s future is intertwined with the 28-year-old’s and that he will only leave the Reds if the Egyptian stays put on Merseyside, or if the former moves to Barcelona, as has been mooted.
A switch to Barca is also potentially on the cards for Diaz, with his father admitting in the past that it would be a “dream” transfer for his son:
“The truth is that I know very little about Barcelona at the moment. It is true that Luis is a loyal Barcelona fan and it would be his dream to go there.”
Time to let Diaz leave Liverpool?
As mentioned, Diaz has been a good player for Liverpool, scoring 37 goals and registering 18 assists in 140 appearances – Paul Robinson has described him as “exceptional”, too – but it is hard to ever see him reaching the truly elite level of Salah or Sadio Mane, for example.
For that reason, and given the winger’s age, this summer feels like a natural time for the Reds to cash in on him, bringing in a younger player with a higher ceiling instead.
In fact, this should remain the case even if Salah departs, but keeping hold of the 32-year-old remains Liverpool’s priority over any new signing this summer.
Granted, he may be struggling for form after a long season and isn’t getting any younger, but he is the Reds’ only irreplaceable attacking player, and can continue to excel for years to come.