Barcelona is lining up a $72 million bid for Liverpool forward Luis Diaz. Spanish outlet Sport claims the Catalan club has reportedly already informed Liverpool of its interest in Diaz ahead of making a formal approach during the summer transfer window.

Barca is in the market for a new left winger and Diaz is apparently the player who has been identified to fill that role, but he will cost a significant fee considering he is contracted to Liverpool until the summer of 2027.

Under former manager Xavi, Barcelona had earmarked the Athletic Bilbao winger, Nico Williams, as a priority transfer target to fill the left-wing spot in the team. However, since Xavi's departure, Diaz has apparently overtaken Williams as the Blaugrana's No.1 target.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Salah contract talks 'reach dead end', Robertson replacement plan

READ MORE: 'I really struggled at Liverpool but I will never forget Virgil van Dijk's classy gesture'

Barca sporting director Deco is said to favor Diaz's ability to operate in tighter spaces, with the former Portugal midfielder apparently believing that Williams needs plenty of space to show his best traits, such as his explosive speed.

Athletic Bilbao is also said to have indicated that Williams' release clause stands at $103million, while a report by Colombian outlet Antena 2 said that Barca is planning to lodge a bid of $72million with Liverpool for Diaz.

Meanwhile, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expects to have Diaz available for Saturday's Premier League trip to Brentford despite the winger missing training on Thursday due to illness.

“I assume he is [OK], yesterday he wasn’t allowed [at training] because he had, I think it was, a bit of a sore throat," Slot said in his press conference on Friday. “But I assume he will be training with us today. But I still have to hear this, but we are expecting him to train with us today.”