The next Luis Diaz now wants to sign for Liverpool

Liverpool are at a crossroads, and although FSG likes to play a smart game, the buzz around Arne Slot and his ability to lead this struggling club back to the top is growing.

Some may view Mohamed Salah’s imminent departure as a positive. Salah turns 34 in June, and there is no question that he has fallen from his usual form this season. But Liverpool’s problems run deeper than the Premier League’s poor form.

Although the Anfield team should finish higher four five this season, a lot of damage; a lot needs to be fixed.

The winner is on the left. Center-forward. The winner is right. There are only three different positions FSG needs to consider in the coming months. It goes without saying that this will be a soft transfer window for the Reds to navigate.

The £34m target tells his agent he wants Liverpool

With top sources such as David Ornstein of The Athletic confirming that Slott will stay, Liverpool need to ensure absolute accuracy in the summer transfer window.

The thing is, it’s not just one or two more impactful additions that are needed, but several – and different departments at that. With so many forwards needed, Liverpool may have felt like they could make a smart move to replace Salah while leaving the door open for other arrivals.

This is according to Sports Boom, who believe Liverpool are among the clubs interested in Roma winger Matias Soule, however Aston Villa are currently leading the race. That said, he has had several meetings with his agents to push Liverpool and Arsenal to increase their interest.

Soule, 23, is one of the biggest talents in Serie A, and given that he can command a hefty transfer fee of €40 million (equivalent to £34m), this could be one that could see Liverpool replace Salah without losing any potential reinforcements elsewhere.

Soule has other runners in the Premier League and abroad, so while this is an affordable deal, it’s also one that could attract a lot of interest in the coming weeks, so Liverpool must be quick if they want to land the next Luis Diaz.

Why Soule could be Liverpool’s new Diaz

When Soule entered the Serie A arena in 2023/24, it was reported that only Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli exceeded his performance and continuity metrics. This time, he set the tone for his electronic style.

He is more of a wide player than an out and out winger, he really does play as many roles as he has over the last few years. Snappy and strong, he was praised for his “special” football talent by reporter Zach Lowy.

This flexibility of position and natural physicality on the ball certainly gives an echo of Diaz when he played for Liverpool. There is a balance in what Soule does, a kind of balance between power and skill and style.

The presence of the Colombian was missed in Liverpool this season, Cody Gakpo could not compensate on the left wing. Whether Soule can replicate Diaz’s impact on the right remains to be seen, but he certainly has the all-round unity to bring that quality back to Anfield.

Indeed, in Serie A this season, the Roma striker has six goals (missing only two big chances), and provided five assists, creating five big chances. Excited on the ball and a long unmeasured pass, he blasts balls forward with precision.

His crosses are clean, and while he’s not a relentless runner, he picks and chooses his moments to unleash his burst, something Diaz has in common.

While this doesn’t fill the hole on the left side that Diaz left last summer when he flew to Munich, Slot could deepen Liverpool’s limited attack this year, switching the right side to rely on the pace of Jeremie Frimpong this season – and how has that gone?

Aston Villa may be considered the frontrunners at the moment, but it won’t take much for the narrative to change, if Liverpool decide to drop Soule from their summer shortlist.

As previously noted, the Argentine is relatively cheap, so it would be a smart move to replace Salah with an electric winger, leaving the door open for further investment.