LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah’s future is assured at Anfield but there are still doubts about another star striker with Barcelona ready to make an offer ahead of the final two years of his contract.
Three Liverpool stars see their contracts expire this June but two of them have already signed two-year extensions.
Salah and Virgil van Dijk are both set to remain at Anfield until the end of the 2026-27 season. However, for Trent Alexander-Arnold, an agreement has yet to be reached for a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer.
Liverpool now have to decide whether to sell one of their prized assets while the player’s price is still high or convince him to sign a new deal.
Barcelona are said to be interested in signing Luis Diaz, hoping to place the Colombian striker on the left side of a forward line that also includes Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
Hansi Flick’s LaLiga champion squad wants to go further on the European stage after being knocked out in the semi-finals of the Champions League at the hands of Inter Milan.
With the new Nou Camp Stadium set to open this year, the club is now in a stable financial position and is prepared to spend 72 million pounds to sign Diaz.
Earlier this month, Diaz, who has scored 13 Premier League goals this season, insisted he was happy at Anfield and comfortable with his current contract.
“Yes, happy. Since the first day I arrived, I have always been happy, calm, enjoying football with this great team.
“We will talk about it (a new contract). For me, I want to stay for as long as I want, it also depends on the club. I am happy and enjoying the Premier League,” Diaz said.
Diaz joined Liverpool from Porto in 2022, and the forward has scored 41 goals in 146 appearances for the Reds.
He was often deployed on the right wing by former manager Jurgen Klopp, but played as a main striker under Arne Slot, with Cody Gakpo on the left.