Barcelona are said to have settled on Liverpool winger Luis Diaz as the ideal candidate to strengthen their forward options next season.
The Catalonians were beaten 3-2 by Villarreal on May 18 in their penultimate La Liga game of 2024-25, but boss Hansi Flick will not read too much into the defeat given his side had already been declared champions.
Flick achieved a domestic treble this season in his first campaign in charge, and he will be aiming to win the Champions League next term after missing out on a place in the final following their semi-final defeat against Inter Milan.
In order to achieve success in Europe, the German coach could look to reinforce his forward line, especially as Robert Lewandowski is 36 and may not have much longer at the top level.
ESPN claim that Liverpool attacker Diaz is Barca's preferred candidate, but add that it could be difficult to agree a deal with the Reds.
© Imago
Is Diaz the right fit?
During his time at Anfield this season, Diaz has managed to score 17 goals and provide five assists in all competitions, with only Cody Gakpo (23) and Mohamed Salah (56) registering more goal involvements amongst his teammates.
While Diaz's numbers fall some way short of Lewandowski (43), Raphinha (56) and Lamine Yamal (39), it should be noted that the Liverpool winger has at times been utilised as his team's central striker.
The Colombian is more comfortable in wide zones but his ability to adapt could prove beneficial for the likes of Lewandowski, who may need to be rotated as he enters his late thirties.
Flick will also need to ensure that teenager Yamal does not burn out from playing so much football at such a young age, and bringing the Liverpool forward to the club could help the Barca youngster avoid injury.
However, Diaz himself is 28 years old and has arguably already peaked in terms of performance level, so signing him could be a risky investment for Barcelona's long-term future.
If Barca can negotiate a reasonable fee for the winger below the rumoured asking price of roughly £67m, then bringing the Colombian to Spain could be sensible, but the champions must ensure that they do not place any unnecessary financial burden on the club.
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Lewis Nolan
