Barcelona name Liverpool forward as PRIORITY signing

Liverpool have a clear idea of which players are susceptible to leaving this summer, the key is now finding suitors who would happily take them off our hands.

This isn't to say that the players are unattractive in the current market, but their careers at Anfield seem to have come to a natural end and securing a deal that works for both parties is tricky.

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Each player's talent is what should be valued, not how they have performed at Liverpool when the environment might not have been right. Darwin Nunez is a clear example - he played with freedom at Benfica whereas the expectations on his shoulders at Liverpool seem to have hindered him.

With others however, their place in the team just isn't available anymore. Either someone has displaced them with superior performances, or Arne Slot cannot see a future for them on Merseyside.

Luis Díaz seems to fall into both categories, now that he's competing with Cody Gakpo at left-wing and Slot's temporary solution of fielding the Colombian as a centre-forward hasn't really worked. As such, his position at the club has been debated extensively. Fortunately, he's wanted elsewhere.

Diaz to Barcelona is a genuine possibility

Throughout this second half of the season, we have been reporting different club's interest in Diaz and trying to work out how each move might work. The Saudi clubs offer a variety of different pathways but Barcelona's interest has been the most perplexing of the links we've seen.

Lamine Yamal is tearing things up at right-wing, despite being just 17 years old, meanwhile Raphinha has made the left-wing his own, with Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski as the centre-forward.

So where exactly would Diaz fit into this situation? Well, alas we have some clarity on that all important detail. According to Mundo Deportivo, and backed up by a report from ESPN, Barcelona seem him as a back-up winger to help facilitate Raphinha and Yamal's impressive attacking form.

The report claims: "... the priority remains the signing of a winger because, as Deco [Barcelona's sporting director] said in a recent interview, a certain 'dependence' on the goals and the imbalance of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha is perceived.

"Deco's favourite is Luis Diaz, as MD already advanced last season when he raised the name of Nico Williams. Thus, the interest of the sports director in the Colombian striker is not new.

"Powerful, intense and competitive, Diaz has two years of contract with Liverpool left and from Barca he has already talked to his entourage to know his predisposition to wear Barca, which exists but depends on what can be invested in his hiring."

How the finances of a potential deal would work is still unknown, and will be critical Barcelona's history with failing to meet profit and sustainability guidelines. Liverpool also won't be willing to sign off on a deal that doesn't meet their valuation of the player. Sales will be essential this summer.

But the Reds would have every reason to confidently feel prepared without Diaz next season and if the right terms are met, then it is entirely plausible that a transaction can take place.

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Diaz's form for Liverpool has been inconsistent and other players in different positions are being linked who might suit Slot's style of play better. Everyone could stand to benefit.

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