Why Liverpool are ready to sell Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz is among the Liverpool forwards whose future is up for discussion at the end of the season.

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Anfield Watch has revealed that the Colombian, along with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, could be on their way out of the club in summer 2025.

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Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are plotting an overhaul of the side’s attacking options and there is now considerable scrutiny on Diaz.

He has been afforded every opportunity to carve out an important role for himself in Slot’s side but in the cold light of day he has flickered only intermittently this term.

Sunday’s FA Cup defeat against Plymouth was the latest example of the 28-year-old failing to take his chance. At 28 he is a senior member of the attack but he has been unable to accept that level of responsibility.

Diaz has scored eight goals in 22 Premier League matches this season, which initially doesn’t look like a bad return at all. But the Colombia international scored five of those eight by September 21 and only scored in two matches since.

He is a streaky player; scoring goals in clusters and then embarking on long, barren spells. In this context, he has scored three goals in seven Champions League appearances this season but all three came in the same game against Bayer Leverkusen in November.

Diaz's contract situation

His Premier League expected goals total (xG) this season stands at 6.8. He is just not dangerous enough. Not only is he lacking productivity in front of goal but he’s not creating enough either.

As a winger / centre-forward, Diaz is responsible for laying on chances for others but he’s just not up to it. His expected assists (xA) total in the Premier League is only 2.19, in line with the total of two assists he’s managed to lay on this season.

He’s been moved to centre-forward primarily because Arne Slot doesn’t trust Darwin Nunez up there and Diogo Jota is only available infrequently. Cody Gakpo has decisively seen him off as a left-wing rival.

The Dutchman took to the challenge of usurping Diaz with relish. He has emerged as a genuine world-class attacking option, with nine goal contributions in his last 10 games. Slot no longer sees Diaz as a challenger to Gakpo’s role in the team.

And if Liverpool get the opportunity to cash in on the former Porto star then they should take it. His contract is expiring in summer 2027 and there are no indications from either side that it will get renewed.

It’s believed Diaz signed his contract for around £55,000 per week back in January 2022. Liverpool have NOT yet renewed that deal and Diaz would like a pay rise.

In discussions with AC Milan a few months back, the Italians were quoted a sum of around €150,000 per week. They can’t afford that and it’s unlikely Liverpool will sanction a triple-your-money deal for Diaz on his current output.

Therefore with time ticking down on his contract - it will have two years remaining in summer 2025 - the time will come to sell.

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are among the top European teams who have expressed interest in Diaz and could come calling once again if Liverpool open the door to bids.

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So it’s a combination of Diaz’s favourable contract situation - as well as a lesser-than-expected onfield output - that has led us to this juncture.

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