Liverpool forward CONVINCED Richard Hughes to sell Luis Diaz

Liverpool will soon wrap up a €75m deal which sees Luis Diaz join Bayern Munich. The Colombia winger, 28, joined the Reds back in 2022 for an initial fee of £37.5m (€45m) and his signing has largely been a success.

Diaz has won all the major honours in the domestic game - contributing 13 goals en route to the Premier League title last season.

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Arne Slot opted to use the forward in two different positions during the title-winning campaign - wide on the left as well as in a false 9 role.

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But with two years left on his contract - and no prospect of a renewal - the time has come for a parting of the ways. Sporting director Richard Hughes has done great business - effectively doubling Liverpool’s money on Diaz.

Liverpool well-covered on left wing

It had been speculated that the Reds could go into the market for a direct replacement - with Rodrygo among the options mentioned.

However, according to a new report from James Pearce in the Athletic it appears Liverpool will instead spend the Diaz fee on ANOTHER target - most probably Alexander Isak.

That’s because the club believe that the current options they possess on the left are sufficient with Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz all capable of filling in.

And the emergence of Rio Ngumoha, meanwhile, may be the key factor in the Anfield club declining the opportunity to sign a left winger.

Ngumoha a factor in Diaz decision

“Liverpool believe they have sufficient left-sided cover already in place," the report reads.

“Cody Gakpo, who scored 18 goals in all competitions last season, is expected to kick on and play an even bigger part.

“New signing Hugo Ekitike can operate off that flank as well as through the middle, while the emergence of Rio Ngumoha is another factor.

“It would be wrong to expect too much from Nguhoma given he doesn’t even turn 17 for another month, but he’s a massive talent.

“He has lit up pre-season and you don’t want to block his pathway.”

Ngumoha now set for increased role

Ngumoha, 16, joined the Reds from Chelsea in a controversial deal last summer and has ALREADY featured for Arne Slot in the first team.

The England youth has been taken on tour to Asia - featuring in two preseason friendlies so far against Preston and AC Milan - and looks set for a new contract when he turns 17 next month.

It is a remarkable show of faith in the young dribbler’s abilities that the club are willing to let Diaz go and offer some of his minutes instead to a 16-year-old.

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Liverpool’s development plan over Ngumoha is working perfectly - and it could help them channel €75m of transfer spend into a new striker like Isak.

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