Expert: Liverpool are 'not happy with Luiz Diaz', replacement lined up
03/26/2025 08:00 AM
Liverpool are yet to identify a clear Luis Diaz successor in the transfer market as speculation grows over his future at Anfield.
That's according to former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected in the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Diaz could be on his way out.
The Colombian has been an ever-present for Arne Slot’s Reds this season, with his 42 appearances in all competitions the joint second-highest in Liverpool’s squad, and Diaz missing just one league match.
Diaz has also netted nine Premier League goals, trailing only Mohamed Salah in the goalscoring ranks, yet a solitary strike against Wolves last month is the only time he’s been on target so far in 2025.
As a result, Liverpool may look to move the 28-year-old on this summer as Slot prepares for a squad overhaul on Merseyside, and with Barcelona being fans of Diaz, a departure could be on the cards.
Liverpool preparing for significant summer of change
Diaz doesn’t look set to be the only player departing Anfield this summer, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid now seemingly set in stone and doubts lingering over Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds have been in the market for top-level attackers out wide such as Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, but with Salah potentially heading for the exit door, he’d likely succeed the Egyptian rather than Diaz.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, doesn’t see Liverpool allowing Diaz to leave without a replacement.
“In order for this to happen, you’ve got to have something coming in – I don’t know who it is that Liverpool are looking at to improve their pot”, Brown told Football Insider.
“It would be very difficult for them to let [Diaz] go out, when they haven’t got anybody coming in.
“They’re better off then, sticking with what they have, but you just get the feeling that they’re not 100 per cent happy with what they’ve got.”
Arne Slot can’t afford to let Liverpool rebuild spiral further
With Alexander-Arnold’s mind seemingly made up regarding a move to Real Madrid, Liverpool now face a nervous wait over the decisions of Salah and Van Dijk, having failed to sign all three up to new contracts.
Losing all three of their star men – and for a lump sum of zero – would leave Slot with significant gaps to fill in his squad, and that would surely put the Dutchman off accepting any bids for the likes of Diaz.
Liverpool will instead look to raise funds by selling off more fringe players such as Caoimhin Kelleher, but with Diaz still a regular starter despite his declining output, Slot will hope his number seven stays put.
Unless Barcelona break the bank to try and sign Diaz – unlikely given their financial situation – he should remain a Liverpool player next term, and he may have to step up to the plate in Salah’s potential absence.
The post Expert: Liverpool are 'not happy with Luiz Diaz', replacement lined up appeared first on Football Insider.
