Luis Diaz 'to attend' Barcelona transfer meeting as Liverpool faces dilemma

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz has consistently been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer with Barcelona interested and his father having spoken in the past about wanting to see the 27-year-old play in Spain.

But Diaz insisted at the end of the season that he was content at Liverpool and has now gone away on international duty with Colombia for the Copa America. It is not the easiest time to conduct a big-money transfer when a player is with his national side and the first match for the South Americans is on Monday as the group phase begins.

Nevertheless, Colombian journalist Breinner Arteta Cañizares has claimed (via X/Twitter) that Diaz will have a meeting with Barcelona in the US in the next week or so. It is once again being suggested that the Liverpool man could potentially make a transfer exit this summer.

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Barcelona has had a long-standing interest in signing Diaz while PSG needs a replacement for Kylian Mbappe. But it remains to be seen if the Catalan side could afford a transfer fee high enough to tempt Liverpool into a sale. The Telegraph has previously reported that it would take around $95m (£75m/€89m) for Liverpool to cash in and the Reds would also need to line up a successor.

The Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claimed last month that Diaz would be prepared to 'fight' for a transfer to Barcelona with the player said to be willing to make the switch. But that will not help the Camp Nou team to generate the funds required to snap him up two-and-a-half years after missing out on his signature when he left FC Porto.

Liverpool.com says: There is an argument to be made for cashing in on Diaz but trying to find an upgrade that doesn't cost the earth will not be straightforward. Cody Gakpo has done well off the left at times but Liverpool needs more depth in its attack, not less. Even if Diaz stays, the Reds should still be looking to sign a sixth senior attacker given the number of matches that it will play next season.

Arne Slot cannot be caught short of forwards considering the expanded Champions League format. Mohamed Salah is also not getting any younger while Diogo Jota can be injury prone.