Luis Díaz transfer rests on Barcelona selling $90m ace as Liverpool awaits bid

Liverpool winger Luis Díaz has been at Liverpool for two-and-a-half years, but the Colombian's time at Anfield could be coming to an end.

Díaz signed for Liverpool from FC Porto in the January 2022 transfer window, and made an instant impact at Anfield. He spurred Liverpool on as the club looked to win an unpredecented quadruple in 2021/22. In the end, the club fell short, losing out on the Champions League in the final to Real Madrid and losing out on the Premier League to Manchester City by a single point.

Yet Díaz was one of Liverpool's best player in the second half of that season, and ever since then has been one of the club's standout performers.

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Díaz had his most productive season in 2023/24, with the 27-year-old scoring 13 goals in all competitions for the Reds, as it secured a top four finished and entry back into the Champions League after a year absence. According to Spanish source Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona is trying to lure Díaz to La Liga this summer, and have made the Colombian a primary target.

Barcelona have financial issues, as is well-known at this stage, and Mundo Deportivo state that the Catalans cannot make a move to sign Díaz until it sells players. To raise funds to sign Díaz, it's reported that the club intends to sell Brazilian winger Raphinha. Raphinha signed for the club from Leeds United two years ago, but the winger never really settled in Catalonia and has been constantly linked with a move away from Camp Nou.

Raphinha scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions for Barcelona last season, but Barcelona won't find it easy to offload the Brazilian and make close to the $62m (£48m/€58m) it spent on buying him in 2022. Mundo Deportivo believes Barca is looking an offer in the region of $96m (£76m/€90m) to let him go and sign Díaz.

Moreover, Mundo Deportivo states that Díaz wants to play for Barcelona, with the paper suggesting it's his 'dream'. Liverpool is in no hurry to sell the player and if Barcelona don't offer a suffice amount, then the player will remain at Anfield.

Liverpool.com says: Díaz's contract at Liverpool doesn't expire for another three years, so the club has absolutely no need to sell him, even if he wants to leave. Moreover, it's debatable whether Barcelona can get the money needed to sign him.