Liverpool has finalized an agreement to transfer Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.
The total transaction is valued at £65.5 million.
Diaz, who has two years left on his contract with Liverpool, has received clearance to exit the club’s tour in Asia. Although he is currently in Tokyo with the team, he is set to depart within the next day.
Initially, Liverpool turned down Bayern’s first offer, rumored to be around £58.5 million (€67 million), but the German side returned with a second proposal that included add-ons, reaching £65.5 million (€75 million). The Reds accepted this offer, believing it reflects the full market value.
Throughout the summer, Liverpool had been reluctant to part with a pivotal first-team player. However, Diaz and his representatives advocated for a move, expressing a desire to leave as early as summer 2024. The club remained steadfast during that time, carefully evaluating the squad and market conditions.
Attempts made by Liverpool to negotiate a contract extension with Diaz fell short due to discrepancies in financial expectations. Following Diaz’s contributions to securing the club’s 20th Premier League title, Liverpool ultimately acquiesced to his request for a transfer.
Diaz initially joined Liverpool in January 2022 for a guaranteed fee of £37.5 million (€42.9 million) on a five-and-a-half-year contract. His departure will not disrupt Liverpool’s recruitment strategy, as they have already signed Hugo Ekitike to bolster their offensive lineup.
Diaz’s Absence Against AC Milan
During a pre-season match against AC Milan, head coach Arne Slot revealed that Diaz was excluded from the squad amid swirling speculation about his future. Darwin Nunez also missed the match due to injury.
Slot stated, “One of the positions that we didn’t have was a No. 9. We had one, Hugo [Ekitike], but he wasn’t ready to play yet. Darwin was injured, and Lucho [Luis Diaz] couldn’t play either.”
Slot elaborated further, indicating that the rumors surrounding Diaz’s potential transfer significantly influenced the decision to bench him. “Lucho is training well with us, but we’ve decided for now not to play him,” Slot added, emphasizing that discussions with him are ongoing.
Could Diaz’s Transfer Open the Door for New Signings?
Sky Sports News’ Mark McAdam:
Liverpool’s move to sell Diaz hints at their willingness to invest in new talents, such as Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, who is reportedly valued at around £150 million. The question remains if Liverpool can afford such a hefty investment.
As far as player sales go, Liverpool has already generated over £60 million this summer, thanks to transactions involving academy players or profitable sales. With players like Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Harvey Elliott potentially generating an additional £150 million, the financial landscape for Liverpool begins to look quite promising while maintaining room in their forward lineup.
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