When the summer started, rumour had it Luis Diaz and Liverpool were planning talks on a new contract with the 28-year-old winger wanting to extend his time at the club despite persistent talk over the years of Barcelona interest.
Soon, though, it became clear that was agent talk—albeit positive agent talk. What was less positive were suggestions that followed the club weren’t actually interested in getting Diaz on a new deal, which perhaps unsurprisingly was followed by an uptick in chatter saying
Diaz was upset and might push to leave.
Of late, the focus on that front has been Bayern Munich, and today The Atheltic’s David Ornstein claims a formal €67.5M bid has been made—but it was immediately rejected by Liverpool, who have set a €100M valuation on the left winger.
It’s the kind of valuation that would seem as though it should send a strong signal. Namely, that Liverpool don’t want to sell. It’s a valuation that says even if someone were to meet it, Liverpool wouldn’t be eager to deal.
While it remains slightly eyebrow raising the club are unwilling to discuss a new deal with a player they have under contract for two more seasons and apparently don’t want to sell, it’s a fair stance to take. Diaz was a key player for Arne Slot last year. And he forward market is highly inflated.
Most of the likely options would cost as much or more than what Bayern are said to have now officially offered. Most of those options wouldn’t be clear upgrades and all transfers come with a degree of risk.
Selling Diaz now for a fee a buying club or neutral fan might consider fair market rate wouldn’t make sense. Refusing to talk new deal, though, does send a mixed message—one that makes it understandable why Diaz might be upset and why Bayern might think they could get him on the cheap.
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- Catalan Press Claim Philippe Coutinho has Chosen Barcelona Shirt Number
- Rumour Mongering: Reds In For Roma Keeper Alisson
- Barcelona Claim They’ve Shown Liverpool “Respect” in Coutinho Chase
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