Reds reject Barca Diaz approach

LIVERPOOL have turned down an approach from Barcelona for Luis Diaz, with the Reds determined to keep hold of the Colombia international.

- By PAUL GORST

As the ECHO reported on Wednesday, the Premier League champions have no intention of selling their 17-goal winger this summer, despite interest from Barca and clubs from the Saudi Pro League, including Al-Nassr, and that stance has now been borne out with a refusal to enter into negotiations with the La Liga side.

Barca’s approach was made on Wednesday but Anfield officials were unequivocal in their insistence that Diaz is not for sale, with Arne Slot keen to keep the former Porto wideman at the club after seeing him become an integral part of the frontline department.

It's unclear how much Barca were willing to pay for Diaz but Slot and his staff view the 28-year-old as a vital part of the attack, having seen him score 13 Premier League goals across two positions in the 24/25 campaign.

The left-winger was asked to lead the line in a more central role at times last term while Diogo Jota recovered from an upper body issue that left him sidelined for close to four months.