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Barcelona tracking Liverpool forward as top priority
Barcelona are keen on signing Liverpool forward Luis Diaz and have identified the player as their key target this summer according to ESPN.
The La Liga champions are in the market for attacking reinforcements, having relied heavily upon Raphinha and young phenom Lamine Yamal in the wide areas this season. Diaz is seen as is seen as the perfect profile as he can operate anywhere along the front line.
He could provide cover and competition on either flank and can also play as a central striker, as main man Robert Lewandowski will be 37 in August.
Aside from Lewandowski, Barcelona has one of the younger squads across Europe, and the 28 year old Diaz would add much needed experience to the their ranks.
While Diaz is seen as the ideal candidate, any deal for him is seen as difficult from a financial standpoint. The player has two years remaining on his contract with Liverpool and has suggested earlier this month that talks with the club over an extension are set to begin.
Convincing both Liverpool and the player would take quite some doing and surely command a hefty fee, believed to be in the region of £65 million.
Diaz tops Barca wish list
Díaz has struck 17 goals across all competitions this season as Liverpool cruised to the Premier League title. While Barca remain confident in pulling off the transfer, financial and registration issues may see them pivot to other targets.
Barca have also shown an interest in Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams in the past and both names are said to be still in contention.
The future of Diaz has been the source of much speculation despite his impressive numbers this season. Diaz alongside Darwin Nunez and Andy Robertson are rumoured to be on the move this summer, following in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold who has announced his departure when his contract expires this summer.
Talks of a Liverpool summer rebuild have circulated, with the club linked to Lyon’s Malick Fofana as well Bournemouth’s Bryan Mbeumo, and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak amongst others. The Reds have already agreed a deal to sign Leverkusen right back Jeremie Frimpong as replacement for Alexander-Arnold, while talks are progressing for Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez.
