Liverpool Ready To Move In For This Liga Bwin Winger: What Will He Add To Klopp’s Side?

In a recent segment of the Transfer Window podcast, Duncan Castles mentioned that Liverpool are ready to move in for FC Porto winger Luis Diaz this January. Castles said,

“Liverpool have a budget and are targeting a top-level forward.

“So significant money to spend to improve that position.

“They’re ready to do it in January if the right player becomes available in the January window but definitely will do something in the summer if they have to wait on a particular player. 

“And this player who is one of the candidates, it seems more likely they’ll have to wait until the summer to get him, is Luis Diaz at FC Porto. 

“The difficulty for January is that I’m told Porto will not sell mid-season. 

“He’s too important to the team, would be unacceptable to the Porto supporters and they want to win the Portuguese league. 

“So they say they’ve had no direct contact from Liverpool at this stage, they’re aware that Liverpool have been in contact with the player but their position is ‘we won’t sell in January, come back again in the summer’.”

Diaz’s Incredible Numbers In Portuguese Football This Season

Diaz is having a brilliant campaign with Porto after putting in a handful of impressive displays on the left side of their attack. The Colombia international has registered 14 goals and four assists in 23 matches for the Portuguese side this season across all fronts.

The 24-year-old has given a good account of himself in the final third as he is averaging 2.7 shots, 1.9 key passes and 2.7 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He has even been tidy with his ball distribution from the left flank as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 80.1% in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).

What Will Diaz Add To Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool Side?

Diaz boasts electric pace and can make a few promising runs with the ball out on the wide areas. He can turn on the afterburners to leave his marker to bite the dust when left isolated in a 1v1 situation. The 31-time Colombia international has added plenty of goals to his game this season and deserves credit for picking up the odd assist in the attacking end of the field.

Hence, Diaz would be an excellent, mid-season acquisition to the Reds as he will add a lot of pace and goals to Jurgen Klopp’s attack. More importantly, his arrival could soften Liverpool‘s blow of losing Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita due to next month’s African Cup of Nations.

Thus, Klopp would be wise to try everything in his power to get Diaz on board when the transfer window commences at the start of next year.