“I like a lot of what I saw” - Liverpool head coach Arne Slot addresses Luis Diaz transfer rumors
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has stated that he expects winger Luis Diaz to remain at Anfield amid rumors linking him with a move away. Most recently, the Colombia international was reportedly on the wishlist of Barcelona's plans for this summer (via Barca Universal).
The news comes in with Diaz having three years left on his current deal with the Reds. His place on the left wing is certainly not guaranteed, with the likes of Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo, among others set to provide competition for minutes.
Regardless, new boss Slot seems to be impressed with Diaz and said in a recent press conference (via Liverpool Echo):
"When I walked in, the whole day is about talking about football, it's not surprise I hear speculation about Diaz. Is there anyone we don't talk about? His future is with us."
"I like a lot of what I saw. He has had a big impact on Liverpool and I hope he has one for the coming season."
Diaz came to Merseyside in January 2022 from FC Porto for a reported fee of £37 million. Since then, he's played 125 matches across competitions for the Reds, bagging 41 goals and 19 assists.
The Colombian has won the FA Cup once and the Carabao Cup twice, among other honors in his time so far with his current employers. A move to Barcelona may be tempting for the winger, who knows that the attacking position on the left flank is up for grabs at Camp Nou.
Manchester City to compete with Barcelona in an attempt to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool- Reports
Reports suggest that Barcelona aren't the only team chasing Liverpool's Luis Diaz, with Manchester City also said to be interested in the attacker. According to El Chiringuito TV, the Cityzens have agreed terms with the player, while they are willing to pay €70 million as the transfer fee to get this deal done.
This would be a huge move for the Colombian, with Manchester City sitting as one of the top clubs in Europe. They managed to win their fourth straight Premier League title in the 2023-24 season after claiming the UEFA Champions League trophy the year before.
However, a move to the Etihad will come with serious competition for minutes on the left wing. Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are already battling it out for game time in that position. Moreover, Pep Guardiola can turn to Phil Foden to play there as well.