According to a report from SPORT, Luis Diaz has chosen to delay contract renewal talks with Liverpool until July as Barcelona’s interest in the Colombian winger continues to intensify.
The 28-year-old has become one of the main objectives for the Catalan giants this summer, with Deco and the sporting leadership keen to add a world-class attacker to the squad.
Diaz, whose current deal runs until 2027, has had a contract extension proposal on the table for weeks. The offer would keep him at Anfield until 2029 and includes a significant salary increase.
Despite this, he and his representatives have opted to pause negotiations, conscious that Barcelona need time to resolve their financial situation and gain clarity on what operations they can realistically undertake.
Barcelona are firmly in the race
Barcelona are well aware that any move for Diaz will be complex. Not only does the winger play for a club of Liverpool’s stature, but he is also valued at €85 million by the English side.
This is the figure the Reds have reportedly set for any club interested in securing his services, especially with memories still fresh from losing Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer to Real Madrid. Liverpool are determined to avoid a similar outcome with Diaz.
Luis Diaz is willing to give Barcelona some time. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Internally, there is optimism at Barcelona that they can once again operate under the 1:1 spending rule this summer. President Joan Laporta has publicly expressed confidence that the club will be in a position to make significant moves.
However, Barça’s first priority remains sorting the renewals of key players and strengthening the core of the team before launching into any high-profile transfers.
Where does this leave Diaz?
For Diaz, the interest from Barcelona represents a career-defining opportunity. He reportedly earns around €3.5 million per year at Liverpool, relatively modest for a player of his calibre in the Premier League.
While his relationship with the Merseyside club remains strong, the Colombian understands that his current deal does not reflect his importance to the team.
Though he has a great bond with the Anfield faithful and remains professionally aligned with Liverpool’s project, the lure of Barcelona and the chance to wear the iconic Blaugrana shirt is something he is unwilling to ignore.
By postponing his decision until July, he is effectively giving Barcelona the chance to prepare an offer while keeping all doors open.