Is Luis Diaz DISRESPECTED? Here's how he matches up against transfer rivals

Luis Diaz has been tipped as a potential Liverpool departure at the end of the season. There is a contract issue to solve, let’s get that out of the way.

Diaz, 28, is out of contract in 2027 and Liverpool are so far unwilling to meet his demands for a renewal. He makes £55,000 per week, according to most estimates - the same salary he has earned since signing from Porto in 2022.

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In comparison to other Liverpool attackers, this is low. Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez for example are making up to three times as much. And yet none of them can claim to have had as big an impact on the Reds’ title-winning season as Diaz.

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His entourage are believed to want around £140k per week to £150k per week to renew. Richard Hughes has got a delicate situation facing him; weighing up whether Diaz is worth it.

If he decides not then we could see the Colombian international on his way and there has been no shortage of names in the frame to replace him.

Liverpool links with left-wing options

The likes of Antoine Semenyo, Eberechi Eze, Jamie Gittens, Xavi Simons and Anthony Gordon have all been linked. Fans are excited about the prospect of upgrading the left-wing options, Cody Gakpo’s continued presence notwithstanding.

But the reality of the matter is that finding a player as good as Diaz - within the wage structure and for a manageable transfer fee - is going to be a difficult ask.

How do the current crop measure up to Diaz? And what does it indicate that Hughes and Co. should do next?

Let's look into the statistical analysis - with all facts and figures provided by FBREF.

This season Diaz has played 33 Premier League matches - between left-wing and striker, making 26 starts. In that time on the pitch he has contributed 12 league goals and five assists.

In comparison, Semenyo has played 34 times for Bournemouth, making 33 starts, scoring nine times and adding five assists. Eze has played 30 times, making 28 starts, and has scored four goals and made eight assists in a Crystal Palace shirt.

For Gittens, he has played 30 Bundesliga matches for Borussia Dortmund, starting 21 games. He has scored eight times in the league and made three assists. Elsewhere in the German top flight for RB Leipzig, Xavi Simons has played and started 23 games, scoring nine times and making six assists.

Gordon, meanwhile, has played 31 times for Newcastle, including 25 starts, scoring six times and making five assists.

Diaz comes out on top vs transfer rivals

Diaz is scoring more than all his left-wing rivals, and holding his own in assist numbers too. His goals and assists figures per 90 minutes are equally impressive.

Diaz contributes .49 goals and .20 assists in the league per 90. For Semenyo, these figures are .28 and .15. Eze .15 and .31. For Gittens it’s .41 and .15. In Simons’ case it’s .41 and .27. And Gordon .24 and .20.

Again, his goal threat gives him the edge even if there are others ahead of him in assists per 90.

He is an efficient shooter too as this Goals Per Shot table proves (from best to worst)

Simons 0.22

Diaz 0.18

Gittens 0.15

Gordon 0.09

Semenyo 0.08

Eze 0.04

And Diaz makes things happen. His shot-creating actions per 90 put him ahead of all his competitors.

Diaz 4.69

Eze 4.58

Simons 4.34

Gordon 3.99

Semenyo 3.77

Gittens 3.72

Diaz is underappreciated

It’s a similar situation for goal-creating actions.

Diaz 0.65

Gittens 0.51

Gordon .48

Simons .46

Semenyo .40

Eze .35

These are impressive numbers across the board.

Diaz is perhaps a little unheralded among Liverpool fans, who bemoan his finishing abilities and his streakiness. But among the best of the best - the ones touted to replace him - he is coming out on top.

None of the above players come with the guarantees that Diaz has given Slot.

The fees mooted are high and climbing; the likes of Simons, Semenyo and Eze have all been valued around £70m. Gordon would probably go higher and Gittens perhaps around £50m. But at 20 he is a work in progress.

Not to mention the wages; all would be expecting parity with Liverpool’s other forward options - something Hughes refuses to give Diaz.

Could Diaz improve his off-the-ball work?

Where some of the others have the edge is in defensive work. Take recoveries for example, Semenyo leads the way on 150. Then comes Eze on 128, Simons 118, Diaz next on 98, Gordon on 92 and Gittens on 63.

Semenyo is equally responsible off the ball when it comes to tackles and interceptions - on 63. Eze has made 48, Gittens and Diaz 40 each and Simons and Gordon both on 37.

It’s easy to see why Hughes and Slot would be seduced by Semenyo’s work rate but the club have had difficulty matching Dominik Szoboszlai’s work off the ball with better numbers in front of goal.

It could be a risk to sign a pressing demon at the expense of Diaz’s shot-creating actions.

This might well be a case of better the devil you know. Diaz has made a decisive step up this season even if not all fans appreciate it.

Among the linked players, there isn’t really anyone outstandingly better, certainly one who could justify the massive spend and salary.

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The ideal - but maybe less sexy option - is the shore up a new contract for Diaz on terms closer to what he demands. And protect his value at least while deciding what to do next.