Named: The forward Richard Hughes PREFERS to Rodrygo

Liverpool have got a big decision to make over Luis Diaz. The Colombian winger is the subject of intense transfer interest from Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga giants are reportedly back with a bid which comes closer to Liverpool’s demands - initially reported around the €100m mark.

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While the fee is unlikely to reach that high - the departure of Diaz would open the door for the Reds to sign a replacement in and around the same figure.

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One option who has been discussed extensively is Rodrygo of Real Madrid. The 24-year-old would appear to be surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu with new coach Xabi Alonso preferring other options in his position.

Rodrygo on Liverpool's list

Rodrygo is under contract until 2028 but in all honesty is probably free to find himself a new club this summer.

His signing wouldn’t be cheap - with the 15-time European champions demanding around €100m - and his wages would be very much in the blockbuster category.

Rodrygo has been mostly fielded from the right over the last couple of years but in actual fact would be more at home on the left.

He’s got Vinicius Junior ahead of him in the pecking order there and has had to settle for a role on the other side of attack in recent seasons.

Rodrygo is a familiar face to Liverpool recruiters - with the club having made an attempt to bring him to Anfield before he joined Real Madrid in 2029.

Richard Hughes likes Bradley Barcola

And tempting as it might be to revisit a long-standing target, sporting director Richard Hughes apparently has got a different player in mind for left wing.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola featured extensively for the treble winners last season but has got some serious opposition to contend with at the Parc des Princes.

The club signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January while Desire Doue has also come to the fore over the last 12 months.

It leaves Barcola at risk of missing out on a starting berth in Luis Enrique’s preferred XI - he started neither the Champions League final nor the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Barcola deal difficult

There have been links with both Bayern Munich and Liverpool this summer - although at the moment it doesn’t appear Barcola is likely to go anywhere.

The France international signed for PSG from Lyon back in 2023 for around €45m and is under contract until 2028. It would take a sizeable offer to even bring PSG to the table - but perhaps this is a transfer to circle back on down the line.

“Sporting director Richard Hughes is a big fan of PSG's Bradley Barcola, but knows the French club won't let him go this summer,” a report on ESPN states.

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Liverpool have already got Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike as options on the left for the season ahead - if Diaz goes. But if Richard Hughes gets any sort of encouragement from Barcola in the windows upcoming then Liverpool could be back with a bid.

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