Arne Slot has addressed Luis Diaz's absence from Liverpool's pre-season friendly against AC Milan, fueling speculation surrounding the winger's future amid reported interest from Bayern Munich. The Liverpool manager admitted that Diaz was left out of the squad due to the ongoing uncertainty, with Bayern Munich reportedly preparing a second bid for the Colombian international.
Slot acknowledged the rumors surrounding Diaz and stated, "There are a lot of rumours around it lately and I cannot go into that". However, he confirmed that Diaz has been training well but the club has "decided, for now, not to play him yet". This decision comes as Bayern Munich are said to be in persistent dialogue with Liverpool regarding a potential transfer.
Reports indicate that Bayern Munich's interest in Diaz is strong, viewing him as a replacement for Leroy Sane. The German champions had an initial bid, reportedly around £58.5 million, rejected by Liverpool earlier this month. Despite Liverpool's initial stance that Diaz is not for sale, Bayern's communication with the club has been persistent. It is believed Liverpool value Diaz at more than €100m (£87m). Some reports suggest that Bayern are preparing a second offer for the winger. There are varying reports regarding the potential transfer fee, with some suggesting a deal could be sealed for around €80 million while others state Liverpool values Diaz at around $117 million (£87 million).
Luis Diaz is reportedly open to a move away from Anfield and has made a request to Liverpool to accept Bayern Munich's offer, unless the club is prepared to extend his contract. Diaz's current contract has two years left, and no extension talks have been held. He had hoped to open contract talks after scoring 17 goals last season. It is believed that Diaz wants to join Bayern Munich.
The winger's absence from the pre-season friendly has intensified the transfer speculation. Some reports indicate that Bayern Munich is close to reaching an agreement with Liverpool for Diaz, with the Bundesliga champions confident of securing the transfer. Other clubs, including Barcelona and clubs in Saudi Arabia, have also shown interest in Diaz. Barcelona had made an initial inquiry for Diaz before moving for Marcus Rashford.
Slot also addressed the absence of Darwin Nunez from the friendly, clarifying that it was due to a minor injury and not related to a potential transfer. He expects Nunez to participate in the upcoming games in Japan.
Liverpool have already strengthened their forward line with the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. They are also reportedly interested in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak.
Amidst the uncertainty surrounding Diaz's future, Arne Slot's admission highlights the ongoing negotiations between Liverpool and Bayern Munich. The coming days will likely be crucial in determining whether Diaz will remain at Anfield or make the move to the Bundesliga.
