Liverpool transfer news latest: Futures of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota assessed amid exit links

With Darwin Nunez expected to leave Liverpool in the summer, Luis Diaz is the likeliest of the club's other established forwards to join him on his way out, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed.

The arrival of Florian Wirtz is set to signal a transformation in the champions' offensive ranks, and it would not be surprising if other additions were made up front.

However, in order to make room for any more newcomers, the Mereysiders will almost certainly have to sanction the departure of attackers in the squad.

Nunez is expected to leave but speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch argued that Diaz is more likely than Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota to join him through the exit doors, saying: "Diaz is the likeliest [to join Nunez], and not on the basis that they'll push him out the door. The idea that Liverpool want to get rid of him, it's certainly not the case.

"If they get another season of Diaz they'd be happy with that because he's played multiple positions, brilliant attitude, good player, arguably second most important forward last season, so they're by no means kicking him out the door.

"It's just that with two years left on his contract he wants to earn more. There's a decision to make. The reason that feels likeliest out of any of them is because there is interest there, and Al-Nassr are sniffing about and they are willing to offer big money to get him, money that would make Liverpool think."

Diaz has also been linked with the likes of Barcelona, but it is difficult to see the Spanish giants offering Liverpool more than teams such as Al-Nassr considering their financial troubles.

Could Gakpo and Jota leave?

Gakpo has reportedly emerged as a target for Bayern Munich, who are in the market for offensive reinforcements after missing out on Wirtz to Liverpool.

As for Jota, the Portuguese forward has failed to start 15 Premier League games in four his five seasons with the Reds, and his injury history could make him a candidate to be sold this summer.

Lynch expressed his view that both players will ultimately stay at Anfield, though admitted Gakpo would have more interest, when he told Sports Mole: "It's very hard to see Jota generating enough interest to give Liverpool the decision to make because he's had so many injuries recently.

"He can have a better season next season if he can stay fit, but it's hard to see anyone coming in at a fee that would make Liverpool think 'yeah, we want to completely overhaul our attack this summer' - it's better to go in stages if possible.

"With Gakpo, where he's up to contract wise, age wise, the season he had, the fact he's getting better - there may be Bayern Munich interest in him, but I can't see anything coming of that because Liverpool will be more steadfast in refusing that because there's so many doubts over other players."

Gakpo enjoyed a productive campaign for the Merseysiders, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists, with Mohamed Salah his only teammate to register more goal involvements in 2024-25 (57).

What could Liverpool get for Nunez?

While there is speculation about the futures of Gakpo and Jota, it is widely accepted that striker Nunez will leave Anfield following three inconsistent seasons on Merseyside.

The forward was bought from Benfica in 2022 for a fee that could rise to £85m, but it is hard to see the Reds recouping a similar transfer fee from interested parties such as Napoli or Atletico Madrid, though Nunez reportedly has admirers in the Saudi Pro League.

Lynch insisted that Liverpool can expect a much lower fee if Nunez stays in Europe, telling Sports Mole: "In terms of what Liverpool demand for him, I think the baseline valuation that they were putting on him originally was 65, 70m, but whether they're going to get that or not is a big question.

"They could get that from Saudi but if he does dig his heels and he wants to go to Europe, then you're going to be looking for something closer to 50, 45m because clubs in Europe can't spend that amount of money, so that's one reason Liverpool would prefer him to go to Saudi.

"But it's very much up in the air. It's not easy to unpick what the truth is around all this at the moment, so this is one where supporters have got to wait and see how it plays out."

Considering the Reds could spend north of £200m this summer, it would be sensible for Liverpool to earn as much as they can through sales in order to help finances.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on the possible exits of Diaz, Gakpo and Jota

Written by
Lewis Nolan