Liverpool 'consider move for Porto star Luis Diaz' to cover for Mo Salah and Sadio Mane during AFCON

Liverpool have reportedly identified Porto winger Luis Diaz as a potential target to solve their African Cup of Nations crisis in January.

The Reds are thought to be in the market for attacking reinforcements to help them deal with the losses of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.

Despite the pandemic, the tournament is still set to get underway on January 9, with the tournament coming to a close on February 6.

It means the pair will miss games against Brentford and Crystal Palace, while it is still unsure whether they'll be available for their trip to Chelsea on January 2.

As reported by FourFourTwo, Liverpool could go for the man that has been dubbed in Portugal as the 'Colombian Cristiano Ronaldo'.

The 24-year-old who joined Porto in 2019, has been in explosive form so far this season.

He has scored 14 games in all competitions, including 12 in 15 Portuguese Primeira Liga games.

Liverpool are not the only team interested in the Colombian star, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich among other top clubs keeping tabs on his progress.

Jurgen Klopp in the past has preferred not to spend big money during the January transfer window.

Last season, Liverpool signed Ben Davies from Preston and Ozan Kabak on a loan-deal from Schalke - amid their defensive problems during the campaign.

The last big spending Klopp made during a January transfer window was Virgil van Dijk for £75m in 2018, after they failed in their attempts to land him the prior summer.

Ongoing contract talks with Salah are believed to make new signings more likely, in a bid to please their star player.

The Egyptian has reportedly asked for assurance that the squad will be reinforced, should he extend his time on Merseyside.

While Liverpool could do with signing an up-and-coming talent such as Diaz, his form this season for Porto will likely increase his transfer value.

Ahead of Liverpool's victory over Newcastle, Klopp said he confident the Reds will 'find solutions' without Mane or Salah and that he is 'happy' with the squad he has.