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Dietmar Hamann has expressed his skepticism at Bayern Munich’s interest in signing Luis Diaz from Liverpool.
The German, who represented both former European champions during his playing days, admitted in a recent interview that he was taken aback by Bayern’s decision to bid for Diaz this week. The Reds rejected a €68million ($79M/£59M) bid for the Colombian on Tuesday, with the Reds valuing Diaz closer to the €100M ($116M/£87M) mark, although the club has no plans to sell the star winger.
Despite that, reports in Germany over the last 24 hours have indicated that Bayern has become Diaz’s preference amid interest this summer from Al-Nassr and Barcelona, with the German giants set to return with a bid for the 28-year-old. There have even been claims that personal terms have been agreed between the player and Bayern.
That’s a position that confuses Hamann, who made 283 appearances in a seven-year playing spell at Anfield, while he also began his career with Bayern and played 143 times for the club.
Now an outspoken pundit, the 51-year-old told Sky Germany he cannot see the logic of signing the Liverpool no.7. “To now bring in Luis Diaz, a 28-year-old South American who played 50 games per season for four or five years and has those long flights home, which are also a problem,” he said.
“To pay €70M ($81M/£61M) or €80M ($93M/£69M) for that, while the sale value is zero because he would be 32 at the end of his contract. I wonder what they even have the [youth-team] campus for?"
Bayern’s interest in Diaz is born out of the departure of Leroy Sane to Galatasaray earlier this summer, while Jamal Musiala suffered a horror leg break at the Club World Cup in July.
It leaves the German champions light on options in the attacking third, and with Diaz's contract having just two years remaining, the ex-Porto man is seen as an attainable asset.
That said, Liverpool is in no mood to negotiate, and it's understood the club does not plan to start talks over a new deal.
The Reds could even allow Diaz to leave for free in two years, as was the case with star names such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Emre Can.
Whether a big offer from Bayern can test that resolve remains unclear, but in a summer of change at Anfield, Liverpool wants to hold on to a player who is seen as a vital part of Arne Slot’s squad.
Only Mohamed Salah made more than Diaz’s 50 appearances in all competitions last season.
He is expected to travel with the Liverpool squad to Asia for the upcoming preseason tour and was filmed in Liverpool training in Kirkby on Friday.
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