Liverpool report: Barcelona confident that Luis Diaz move will 'go ahead'

Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring his second goal for Liverpool against Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford in September 2024.
Luis Diaz has just had his best season yet for Liverpool (Image credit: Getty Images)

Barcelona remain undeterred in their pursuit of Luis Diaz despite running into a barrier over the transfer fee.

The Liverpool forward enjoyed an excellent season for Arne Slot's title-winning side, contributing 17 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

That represents the best return in front of goal the Reds have had out of the Colombian international, who who is Liverpool's sixth-most expensive signing ever following his move from Porto in 2022.

Barcelona want Luis Diaz to push for move away from Liverpool

Mo Salah celebrates a goal with Luis Diaz, Curtis Jones and Conor Bradley in front of Liverpool fans

Luis Diaz has formed a lethal partnership with Mo Salah at Anfield (Image credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Diaz's excellent form at Anfield last season has now led Barcelona to make him their 'main target', according to the imaginatively-titled Spanish outlet Sport.

The equally appropriately-named Sport Witness have been keeping an eye on the newspaper and have relayed that Wednesday's edition reports that Barcelona are 'confident that the deal will go ahead' for Diaz.

That's in spite of that fact that so far, Liverpool are said to be holding out for €80m (£67.3m) in exchange for Diaz's services - a figure that Barcelona are not believed to be willing to rise to.

The ace up Barca's sleeve, if you want to call it that, is twofold. So...aces. We've played Balatro, we get how cards work.

Luis Diaz celebrates a goal for Liverpool

Luis Diaz is said to be keen on moving to Barcelona (Image credit: Getty Images)

Firstly, Barca believe that Liverpool will eventually decide they would rather have a still-very-large amount of money shy of the asking price than miss out on selling Diaz altogether.

That's thanks to Liverpool expecting to have a busy and expensive transfer window: Jeremie Frimpong has already joined, while they have also made a massive bid of around €130m (£109m) for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz.

Barca are said to confident that getting the Wirtz deal done would put Liverpool in a selling mood - particularly if Diaz himself makes entreaties to be allowed to leave.

Slight issue there is that Liverpool are already said to be well aware that Diaz wants to go to Barcelona, who now presumably want him to kick and scream and refuse to eat his dinner until he gets his way.

Steven Chicken

Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.