Not for the first time this season, the idea of Luis Diaz was better than the reality; in the half-time EA FC match played out on the big screens at Wembley (yes, really), his virtual self scored a brace to turn the Carabao Cup final around. In the real-life second half, he was anonymous before being substituted — and as things stand, Liverpool would surely take transfer interest from Barcelona very seriously.
Indeed, the bigger question is why Barcelona would want Diaz. That may seem harsh for a player who has certainly shown flashes of brilliance at Anfield, but one of the most exciting attacks in Europe may well have evolved beyond coveting the hot-and-cold Liverpool man.
Yet the papers suggest otherwise, with ESPN claiming that Diaz’s representatives have been informed of Barcelona’s transfer interest. That comes as Arne Slot prepares for a major overhaul, with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota also at risk of being on the chopping board.
Then there’s the big Mohamed Salah question, with the Egyptian’s contract up soon. With the exception of Cody Gakpo, the gossip columns seem to think that Slot could more or less start a new front line from scratch.
That would be a daunting task. But banking a fee for Diaz would be a good starting point, and if previous comments are anything to go by, then Liverpool would not exactly need to force the Colombian toward the door.
Diaz’s father has spoken in the past about how Barcelona is the dream destination for his son. “It is true that Luis is a loyal Barcelona fan and it would be his dream to go there,” he told Win Sports in 2023.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the lure of Barcelona has proved too strong for a South American player at Liverpool. The fortunes of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho could hardly be more contrasting, but Diaz would obviously hope to follow in the former’s footsteps.
(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
The one thing those two transfers had in common, however, is that Liverpool banked a reasonable fee. Barcelona would need to stump up a fair price again in order to land Diaz, something that’s far from a given considering the ongoing financial restrictions at the Nou Camp.
Meanwhile, according to Fabrizio Romano, Diaz snubbed Saudi interest last summer in order to “respect Liverpool.” But if that’s a move he would theoretically be open to making, it could offer another transfer option in the upcoming window.
Certainly, the Saudi Pro League would have fewer issues putting together a transfer offer that satisfied Liverpool from a financial perspective. The player himself would also be compensated handsomely.
There’s a scenario where the division could more or less fund Slot’s summer rebuild, given that Nunez is also said to be of interest. So too is Salah, although Liverpool will not bank any fee if the Egyptian leaves at the end of his contract.
But whether it’s Barcelona, Saudi Arabia, or somewhere else, there’s certainly a possibility that Diaz ends the year playing somewhere other than Liverpool. While it is far from a given, a parting of the ways could ultimately suit everyone, especially if the winger’s “dream” club comes to the table.
