Arne Slot handed major blow as Liverpool player willing to ‘force’ summer transfer exit

Arne Slot may have to prepare for life without one major Liverpool star as the player is reportedly looking to force a transfer this summer.

After a brutal week that saw Liverpool knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals just days before losing the Carabao Cup final, all eyes now turn to their pursuit of the Premier League.

But, with it looking increasing likely that the Reds will dethrone Manchester City this season, some fans have already started dreaming about the summer transfer window.

The transfer window will once again open on June 12, but it appears Slot may already have been dealt a serious blow as one of his biggest stars is willing to force a transfer this summer.

With the contracts of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all set to expire at the end of the season, Liverpool fans will be concerned that they could lose one or all three of the star players.

Focus in the coming months will also be on Darwin Nunez, given the disappointing performances from the Uruguayan striker this season.

But a new report from Saturday’s edition of Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo has made it clear that Liverpool fans should also expect to lose Luis Diaz in the summer, as he has earned himself a spot on top of Barcelona’s summer target list.

The Colombian winger has been linked with the La Liga giants for some time now, but it now appears that these links are starting to heat up in anticipation of the upcoming transfer window.

In another report, the Spanish outlet claimed that the 28-year-old, who is under contract with Liverpool until 2027, is eager to make the move and is willing to wait ‘as long as it takes’ to secure his dream move.

Luis Diaz will reportedly leave Liverpool this summer. (Image: Getty)

With that in mind, if rumours suggesting that Barcelona will inquire about signing Diaz in the coming months are to be believed, then the newspaper claims that Diaz ‘would not hesitate to force’ a move away from Anfield.

Despite some lacklustre performances this season, the report further claims that this would be seen as a massive blow by Slot, who hopes to keep Diaz as he currently expects Salah to leave the club at the end of the season.

Díaz has scored 13 goals and registered five assists from 42 appearances this season and would likely demand a big price tag should Barcelona hope to sign him this summer.