Earlier this week, a minor incident involving Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Darwin Nunez at the AXA Training Centre sparked a flurry of speculation among fans. Diaz’s offhand comment, which made his teammates laugh, led to intense scrutiny on social media regarding what he said. Some fans theorized that Diaz had mentioned Real Madrid, which has been linked with Alexander-Arnold due to his contract entering its final year at Anfield.
However, despite Alexander-Arnold’s potential attraction to Spanish clubs, Diaz’s future seems less clear. The 27-year-old has long been a target for Barcelona, with his father expressing his desire to play in La Liga at some point. Yet, Barcelona’s financial issues and their recent agreement to sign Dani Olmo for £47.5 million from RB Leipzig appear to have closed that door for this summer.
Similarly, Real Madrid is well-stocked on the left wing after signing Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, and Atletico Madrid’s big summer move has been the acquisition of Julian Alvarez for £81 million from Manchester City. Therefore, a move to Spain seems increasingly unlikely.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) could be a potential destination, as they have yet to replace Mbappe and were previously linked with Diaz. During the Copa America, where he finished as a runner-up to Alexis Mac Allister’s Argentina, Diaz stated he was content at Liverpool, and his behavior upon returning to Kirkby suggests he remains satisfied.
Last season, Diaz was a crucial part of Liverpool’s squad, starting 32 of 38 Premier League matches and contributing significantly with goals and assists from Boxing Day onward. However, Liverpool’s failed bid for Anthony Gordon—halted only when Newcastle United pulled out—highlights their continued interest in bolstering their squad. Gordon’s versatility and potential move could impact Diaz’s position at the club.
Liverpool already boasts several left-sided options, including Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota, while Mohamed Salah remains a fixture on the right side. The pursuit of Gordon, amid Salah’s contract situation and advancing age, might complicate things for new head coach Arne Slot, who will need to manage multiple senior attacking players.
With the transfer deadline approaching in less than three-and-a-half weeks and Slot finally having a complete squad to work with, decisions will need to be made swiftly. Diaz will likely be keen to understand his position at Liverpool moving forward. For now, it seems Spain may not be his next destination, adding another twist to the summer’s transfer drama.
