Liverpool have agreed to sell Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to €75m. The Colombian (28) is poised to fly from Liverpool’s training camp in Tokyo, having been given permission to travel for a medical with the German champions.
Bayern had made Díaz a long-term target and were forced to pay what the English champions demanded as fair market value. Díaz was keen for the move, having first indicated in the summer of 2024 he was open to a transfer. Liverpool reluctantly decided to sell the popular player as part of a summer reboot of their forward line, having twice offered a new contract to a player who arrived from Porto in January 2022.
Díaz was left out of Liverpool’s preseason 4-2 defeat in Hong Kong against Milan, with Arne Slot confirming the absence was because of a possible transfer. “In Lucho’s situation it was, yeah,” the Liverpool manager said. “There are a lot of rumours around it lately and I cannot go into that. But he is training really well with us and we have decided, for now, not to play him yet.”
Liverpool paid Porto €45m plus add‑ons for Díaz, with only €4m triggered, bringing his total cost to €49m. Diaz is expected to depart the Liverpool camp within the next 24 hours as Slot prepares his squad for a meeting with Yokohama F Marinos on Wednesday.
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Liverpool are seeking to bring in funds, having this summer signed Florian Wirtz, a long-term Bayern target, and Hugo Ekitike in two of the biggest deals in club history, and it is understood they are exploring other deals. There are continued links made to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who is open to a move from Tyneside. Darwin Núñez, also linked with a transfer, also did not play against Milan game, though Slot said the Uruguayan forward was absent on fitness grounds.
The completion of the Díaz deal will mean more than €200m will have been made in player sales since Richard Hughes became sporting director in June 2024.
In Hong Kong, Slot affirmed he was happy with his centre-backs, despite the sale of Jarell Quansah indicating a vacancy. The Crystal Palace captain, Marc Guéhi, is the name leading the speculation on that front.
Slot said: “I don’t think we have a concern at centre-back. In terms of depth? I think Ryan [Gravenberch] showed today, by the way, that he can play in that position. He did it last season as well. Although we all know we favour him as a No 6. Wata [Endo] can play there. Joe Gomez only has a minor injury.”
The new arrivals Jeremie Frimpong, left-back Milos Kerkez and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili all played in the second half of the friendly on Saturday, with Wirtz making his first start. – Guardian
