Man Utd show why Luis Diaz may quit Liverpool in summer transfer window

Speculation is mounting over the future of Luis Diaz at Liverpool after it emerged the Colombian forward was among the lowest earners in the first-team squad. The forward has produced some dynamic displays since his £37.5million move from Porto in 2022, although his ability in front of goal has been questioned this season with the club’s forward line misfiring during their stumbling title challenge.

The all-round play of the 27-year-old has made him a vital component of Liverpool’s squad under Jurgen Klopp though, and he was praised for his courage after playing on despite his father’s kidnapping ordeal in November. But it’s Luis Manuel Diaz himself who has previously teased a move to Spain for his son, a boyhood fan of Barcelona.

“The truth is that I know very little about Barcelona at the moment,” Diaz snr told Win Sport last year. “It is true that Luis is a loyal Barcelona fan and it would be his dream to go there. So far I would like to thank Porto and Liverpool for the way they welcomed him and received him.

“Luis is a player who finds it easy to win (fans) over because of the way he is, because of his humility, his work, his dedication. He is a very disciplined player, thank God. There would be no problem if Luis came to Barcelona because it is a top team and one of the best in the world.”

There is already set to be an overhaul at Anfield this summer, with Klopp departing to be replaced by Arne Slot. And the Dutchman will have to address the futures of a number of key players, with Mo Salah one star linked with a big-money move away.

Dias initially chose Liverpool over Tottenham, but his weekly wage on Merseyside given his status as a prominent first team player is surprisingly low. According to Spotrac, the 47-cap international earns just £56,000 a week, with top earner Salah (£350,000) making almost seven times more.

Indeed, even third choice goalkeeper Adrian, who at 37 has played just 14 Premier League games in five seasons, is on a better basic salary (£60,000) that Diaz. Thiago Alacantra meanwhile, who has managed just one appearance in an injury plagued season, is one of 16 players on a more lucrative deal than the wide-man and is currently sitting on a weekly wage of £200,000.

And Diaz only has to look down the motorway to Manchester to realise what he could be making elsewhere. Overall, 20 of Manchester United’s senior players are on a better wage than him, including under-fire players like Antony (£200,000) and Anthony Martial (£250,000), and even 36-year-old defender Jonny Evans (£60,000).

Diaz is contracted at Liverpool until 2026, so the club, in theory, have no need to rush through an immediate sale. But the returning Michael Edwards is likely to have to negotiate a better deal for the star if he intends to keep him at the club long-term.