Liverpool forward to STAY after dramatic transfer U-turn

Liverpool have had a problem to resolve with Luis Diaz for a long time now. The Colombia winger signed for the Reds from Porto back in January 2022 for £37.5m.

The contract he signed back then, worth around £55k per week, extends until summer 2027. Unusually for a Liverpool first-team star, Diaz has had no extension or pay bump in the intervening years.

READ MORE: Man United will trigger Alexander Isak to Liverpool

As such, Liverpool risk losing the winger on a free in two years should no new deal be agreed. It has led to speculation that Diaz could be offloaded this summer.

READ MORE: Massive sign that Alexander Isak to Liverpool is ON

There appears little hope of the 28-year-old signing a new contract at this stage - at least not on the terms he requires. It’s been suggested that Diaz would like a pay increase to around £150k per week in order to settle a new deal.

Liverpool won't pay Diaz's demands

But Liverpool seem reluctant to meet those demands. If Diaz is a little disappointed by that stance, it’s perfectly understandable.

After all, he scored 13 goals as the Reds won the Premier League title last season. He was a key figure under Arne Slot, despite his modest Liverpool career up to that point.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and clubs in Saudi Arabia would all happily have Diaz - but Liverpool have been steadfast in their €80m valuation of the player. As such the market is quite restricted for Diaz unless Liverpool compromise on the fee.

The latest report from Colombia also suggests that Diaz is, in fact, dismayed by Liverpool’s stance over letting him leave.

Diaz is annoyed at Liverpool

Pipe Sierra, who regularly reports on Diaz and other Colombians in Europe, suggests that Diaz’s entourage believe Liverpool haven’t lived up to their promises.

“Luis Díaz and his camp are annoyed with Liverpool’s stance,” Sierra wrote on X. “They feel the club has gone back on their word (yet again with the player).

“Something similar happened before with his contract renewal and now with the possibility of a transfer.”

So what’s changed?

The journalist seems to be suggesting that Liverpool previously informed Diaz he would be free to leave this summer. But now it appears the club have told him he will be staying.

Will Gakpo move instead?

Perhaps that could hint at another sale in Diaz’s position? We already know about Darwin Nunez’s availability but maybe Cody Gakpo could be on his way too.

He is two years younger than Diaz and has got a contract until 2028. Coming off the back of an 18-goal season, he wouldn’t be short of suitors with Bayern again thought to be interested.

Furthermore, with Florian Wirtz capable of drifting out left, a new centre-forward on the way and Milos Kerkez being an attack-minded left-back, there may not be room for both Diaz and Gakpo next season.

READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano CONFIRMS transfer twist: now Liverpool star set to stay

He makes more money than Diaz and if financial considerations are brought into play it would make more sense for the Dutchman to depart. It might disappoint Diaz - who has two years left to run on his deal - but it looks like he will be made to stay.