3 weeks ago
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Amid what has been a sensational transfer window so far for Liverpool, Luis Diaz’s future is providing a worrying backdrop.
The winger continues to be linked with a move away from Anfield, despite the Reds remaining adamant that he is not for sale. That doesn’t seem to have deterred Diaz’s suitors though.
Bayern Munich has seen an offer turned down this week, and the German club will no doubt be encouraged by the Colombian supposedly telling Liverpool he wants to leave the club. One possible avenue looks like it might be closing though, which may well come as a huge disappointment for him.
Barcelona has long been linked with a move for Diaz, with the Spanish giant having been heavily touted for his services last year, and it seemed as though it would be back in the race for him this summer.
Indeed, Liverpool turned down an approach from Barca earlier this summer, and the club’s sporting director Deco has not exactly been shy about suggesting Diaz could be a target.
With Diaz known to be a fan of the Catalan club, it would appear to be the ideal destination for him should Liverpool be talked down from its current stance. Barcelona though looks as though it might be moving on from the 28-year-old.
Already linked with a move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Barca is now reportedly looking at RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Deco has held a meeting with the Netherlands international’s representatives, including Simons’ brother Faustino.
However, the meeting is described as an “exploratory move”, with a move for Simons still seen as unlikely at the moment given Barcelona’s financial situation and Leipzig’s $82 million valuation.
Simons was actually at Barcelona as a youngster before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, and the possibility of a return to the Camp Nou might pose a problem for Bayern.
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The 22-year-old has also been touted as an alternative for the German champion should it miss out on Diaz, so news of Barcelona holding meetings with Simons might force Bayern to move quickly with a new offer for the Liverpool star.
Bayern may also face competition from Saudi Arabia, with recent reports suggesting that Cristiano Ronaldo has urged his club Al-Nassr to make a move for Diaz, believing he could be the next star to boost the profile of the Pro League.
Diaz has addressed the speculation surrounding his future in the last week, although he didn’t give the most convincing of answers when discussing what might happen with him at Liverpool.
"We don't know yet," he told Win Sports. "Nothing, nothing (to say). We're there talking with the management, we're calm where I am. So nothing (to say), we're talking about matters."
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