Luis Diaz is surely not for sale – Liverpool can’t afford even more upheaval this summer
Luis Diaz is the latest big name to be linked as a target for the Saudi Pro League as Al Hilal have supposedly shown an interest. I have to say I’d be very surprised if Liverpool allowed him to leave as it’s quite different from the Fabinho and Henderson situation; Henderson’s had 12 years at the club, Fabinho’s had five, and they’re both at an age where you can understand moving them on.
Diaz, by contrast, is someone Jurgen Klopp is going to want to build around now that he’s back to fitness. He’s still only 26 and he’s been bought to enjoy his prime years at Liverpool. He’s a top player, and I don’t see Liverpool viewing him as a player to cash in on.
There’s already been a lot of upheaval at Liverpool this summer, so I think it would be a real blow to lose Diaz or any other of the forward players at the moment. Diaz is sure to be one of the star players up front, and he’s shown that by looking sharp in pre-season after his last campaign was ruined with that knee injury after making such a promising start. Liverpool view this as a big pre-season for him ahead of a big season coming up, and he’s looked lively and dangerous so far, scoring a really nice goal against Greuther Furth.
Had Liverpool been able to pick Diaz, and Diogo Jota, another player out for so long with injury, last season, I think they’d have had a much better chance of qualifying for the Champions League, so he’s got to have a key role to play next season. I’ve been shocked a few times this summer, but it would be a really risky step to sell Diaz now when they’ve already got so much to do in the transfer market.
Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi would be an interesting option for West Ham
Former Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi has been linked with a return to the Premier League with West Ham, and I’ve always felt he’s such an interesting player. There’s obviously a huge amount of ability and talent there. If you watch moments he’s had in his career, including memorable contributions in some big games for Liverpool, he has looked at times like an elite striker; he can finish with either foot, he can head the ball, he’s strong, he’s quick, has good movement – and yet you look at his career and it has always been moments rather than sustained periods of form.
There was a brief stint earlier in his career when it looked like he was starting to get some consistency, but he got injured and after that he was always a bench player, or a cup player, someone to make an impact in the final 20 minutes of games or as cover for someone else. Maybe that’s why it hasn’t worked out for him in Milan – when you get into that kind of rhythm of not needing to play every game, you don’t need that consistency, and it’s difficult to pick that up.
Still, I have to admit that I am a bit surprised that he hasn’t done well in Serie A – I thought that with the attributes he’s got, he is the kind of player that, with the right set-up around him, could thrive in Italy. He’s got good players around him in Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao, and I expected him to have a decent impact there.
It hasn’t happened for him at Milan, but he’s got experience and shown what he can do in the Premier League, so a move back to England with West Ham wouldn’t be the worst idea. They’ve had some problems up front with Gianluca Scamacca, and Michail Antonio could potentially go to Saudi as well.
There are question-marks over Origi and whether he can be a consistent starter and goal-scorer, but I think they could do a lot worse. He had some big moments for Liverpool and it remains to be seen if he can go on and become more than that, but I’d like to see him back in England.
Tchouameni doesn’t want to join, move on, this story is getting boring. Lavia is a good lad, but not worth £50m. See of we can be clever, give around £35m up front, offer a good young lad of ours and a 20% sell on fee.
This way, Southampton get a wage bill off their books, good money to reinvest, and a good young lad so they’re not a player down.
Liverpool get their man, develops a young player at a club that clearly knows how to develop young players, and we fill in an area we are weak in.
Overall, both clubs get immediate benefits, as well as long term benefits. More importantly, the player is at a level he needs to push his skill level up.
Keep going on about players never gonna get. Lavia would be quality alongside the Mac. Fabinho s legs have gone time to move on. Back line deffo needs bit of work. Plus Arnold like having new midfielder.