'Everything on track' for Barcelona deal as forward drops hint he wants to join

Liverpool are a step closer to announcing Florian Wirtz as a club-record signing. News was spreading on Friday morning that an accord had finally been stuck with Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool have agreed to pay an upfront fee of £100m for the 22-year-old playmaker - with another £16m coming by way of add-ons.

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Reds fans can begin to get very excited about having Wirtz in the plans, but his arrival is not good news for everyone. Given the outlay, there is an expectation that one or more Liverpool forwards will be moved on.

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Liverpool are committing what is potentially a British-record fee for Wirtz and he will be also among the club’s top earners when he signs his five-year deal.

Wirtz deal will impact Diaz

Sales will help with the upfront transfer cost - as well as making room on the wage bill. Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota are two candidates to leave straight away - and the club could bank £100m for the pair.

Wirtz, an attacking midfielder who likes to drift out left, will impact both Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz too. If Arne Slot continues to utilise Dominik Szoboszlai from a central area, then it’s likely Wirtz will be fielded from the left.

What does that mean for Liverpool’s current options in the position?

Well for Luis Diaz, it could put him closer to the exit door. With a contract due to expire in 2027 - and no agreement forthcoming for a new deal - the 28-year-old could well be sold in this window.

Barca 'grateful' for Diaz gesture

Barcelona continue to see the Colombian as their dream signing this summer while Al-Nassr would dearly love to add him to their ranks.

Although Barca were knocked back in initial talks with Liverpool for Diaz, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Richard Hughes will engage in negotiations so long as the price is right.

And Barca are already reported to be ENCOURAGED by Diaz’s conduct this summer. The Colombian international admitted last week that talks had taken place with other clubs over a transfer - a gesture that hasn’t gone unnoticed at Camp Nou.

“Everything is on track, and Barça is grateful that the Colombian has begun to openly discuss his dealings beyond Anfield, with a focus on his future,” reads a report in Mundo Deportivo.

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While Diaz wasn’t outright angling for a move, there is a sense that his days could be numbered. His contract demands simply look too high at this stage for him to stay - and the most likely outcome could end up as a summer exit. Barca are on standby.