Barcelona want to sign Liverpool star Luis Diaz but the Reds are planning to keep hold of the Colombian winger for the new season, as Arne Slot's side bid to defend the Premier League title
Liverpool have told Barcelona they have no intention of selling Luis Diaz this summer. The Reds have rebuffed an approach from the Spanish giants for the Colombia winger.
Diaz, 28, has just two years left on his current contract at the club and has been subject to numerous links this summer about a move away. Saudi Pro League sides Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal have both been linked with him as well as Spanish giants Barcelona.
But Liverpool are not prepared to sell the player and their stance will only change if they receive a huge offer that would allow them to replace him with a similar or better player. He is an important player under boss Arne Slot and scored 17 goals last season in all competitions as the Reds won the Premier League title.
But there are also no plans to open contract talks yet with Diaz with only two years left on his deal. Liverpool are ready to maximise his current abilities in his peak years rather than sell for below his valuation just because of his contract situation.
That would mean they would be prepared to allow him to leave for nothing in two years. The Colombia international has indicated that he'd like to stay, too.
"I feel I'm going through a really good period," Diaz told club media. "I'm really happy to be here, to be part of this great institution, this great club and to have great team-mates around me.
"From the moment I arrived, I felt great pride. I always tried to work hard for this, and to see that nowadays things are working out for me fills me with pride and I'm really happy because that's what I work for. [But] we are nobodies without our team-mates.
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"We are a team. The forwards and wingers always try to help with goals and assists, and right now I've achieved good numbers to back that up. It's about playing and then playing well, supporting the team in the way I play and enjoying it, like always."
Barcelona have been linked with a number of other forwards. Marcus Rashford is up for sale at Manchester United while Atalanta star Ademola Lookman has also been tipped for a move to the newly-crowned La Liga champions, who won a domestic treble during Hansi Flick's trophy-laden first season in charge.