Liverpool already have Luis Diaz replacement which explains Alexander Isak transfer plan
When Luis Diaz arrived at Liverpool in January 2022, his smile lit up the training ground. Then-boss Jurgen Klopp admitted he hadn't seen anyone enjoy training as much as the Colombian did.
Having moved sooner than expected to land him from Porto because Tottenham were sniffing, the Reds got a new weapon in a campaign they were fighting for four trophies in. Diaz was a big part in their League and FA Cup successes while they missed out on the Premier League by a point to Manchester City and suffered Champions League heartache against Real Madrid in Paris.
But it was how quickly he settled which surprised most. Then captain Jordan Henderson even remarked how soon he found his, quite fast, feet at the club. With 41 goals and 16 assists in 148 games as well as a Premier League title and another League Cup to the previously mentioned trophies, Diaz has undoubtedly been a successful buy for £37.5million.
Now he is heading for the exit door, he will need to be replaced. But has he already? Diaz under Arne Slot has been more versatile than the left winger under Klopp.
When Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were unavailable last season, he would be used through the middle. Slot wants a front line that can move about. He often frustrated with end product sometimes a problem but he could be lethal as he showed with a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in November and a brace against Manchester United at Old Trafford in September.
Now Liverpool have already agreed a £79m deal to bring in Hugo Ekitike and he is finding his feet on the summer tour out in Asia, which Diaz has just departed. It should be noted that Liverpool believe the France under-21 striker has the ability to play in more places than one in the front three.
Ekitike is not Nunez's replacement for when he expectedly departs later this summer. Ekitike is the versatile forward to replace Diaz it seems. That is why Liverpool remain on red alert when it comes to Alexander Isak. Because the Sweden hitman is the man they want as their new No.9 when Nunez leaves.
Now should Newcastle fail to budge on their stance that he's not for sale, Liverpool are happy with Ekitike through the middle. Of course, they also have Cody Gakpo on the left and teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha, even at just 16, is starting to push.
Yet if they could land Isak in the coming weeks, even if it will take a British transfer record offer and the Magpies relenting, Slot will believe he will have a much more fluid forward line as well as a lethal one.
They know Ekitike is a forward of promise while Isak is a striker who has proven himself in the Premier League. Yet interchanging them while having options on the left and right (many believe Jeremie Frimpong is more back-up to Mo Salah than a threat to Conor Bradley at right-back), the Reds are building a new-look front line that is more flexible than the previous one.
Why are Liverpool sanctioning Diaz's sale is another question when he too can be flexible in his positioning? Well, it became clear to them 12 months ago that Colombian, although still smiling brightly, was having his head turned.
They tried on two occasions to secure him under a new contract but the differences in salary demands and expectations were too much. Liverpool wanted to stand strong this season.
Earlier in the summer, their stance was Diaz was not for sale but Bayern Munich have proven that everyone is for sale for the right price with their £65.1m bid being accepted. The Reds will be hoping Newcastle's stance changes in a similar fashion.
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