Liverpool handed Luis Diaz WARNING by Barcelona ahead of summer rebuild

Luis Diaz has struggled to cement a place in Arne Slot’s starting XI this campaign.

The Colombian winger has shown glimpses of greatness under Liverpool’s new head coach, but his future at Anfield is not guaranteed.

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As exclusively revealed by Anfield Watch earlier this year, Diaz is one of several high-profile players that are expected to leave Merseyside this summer.

Barcelona have been the team most frequently linked with signing the 28-year-old, with the Blaugrana’s interest dating back to last season.

A deal looked inevitable at one point, but the wheels may now be falling of Diaz’s move to the Spanish giants.

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Hansi Flick blocks Luis Diaz deal

According to a recent report from El Nacional, Barca’s manager Hansi Flick is doubtful about a move for the Colombian winger and has expressed his concerns to the club’s board.

Flick’s main concern is Diaz’s age, with the wingers 29th birthday approaching, and the German reportedly feels Barca’s funds should be used on a younger target.

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The update names Nico Williams, who has also been tentatively linked with a Liverpool switch, as Flick’s ideal alternative to Diaz.

A fee of around €70 million has been touted for Diaz’s transfer to Barcelona, and this would represent the club’s single biggest outlay on a player since they signed Antoine Griezmann for €120m in 2019.

This development does not mean Barcelona definitely won’t move for Diaz, but it could prove as a warning to Liverpool ahead of the summer window.

Liverpool should see Diaz warning

If the Reds really are ready to move on from Diaz at the end of the season, they will surely be able to find another suitor, but Barca’s doubts over the deal should be taken on board by Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes.

Liverpool have a number of players in a similar age category to Diaz, players who are seen to be already in their ‘prime’ and approaching the age that footballers generally begin to decline.

Eight of Arne Slot’s first team squad are 28 or older, and clubs may have similar reservations to Barcelona if any of these players are to be sold this summer or in the future.

This could make Liverpool’s planned summer rebuild slightly harder, but the Reds’ executives are widely regarded as some of the ‘best in the game’ so a plan is surely in place.

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Diaz to Barcelona could still happen, but it definitely doesn’t looks as nailed on as it once did, and Liverpool will need to be wary of similar complications in other sales this summer.