Leaving Liverpool: Díaz switch is an enormous gamble for Bayern

When Luis Díaz married his long-term companion, Gera Ponce, in a lavish ceremony in his native Colombia in June, the marriage playlist featured a shock inclusion.

Video footage from the reception confirmed Díaz singing and dancing alongside to “Bella Ciao,” a music that Liverpool followers reworked in his honor following his arrival from FC Porto in January 2022. Lyrics charting Díaz’s journey from the small Colombian city of Barrancas to the heights of the Premier League may very well be heard ringing out in stadiums throughout Europe because the ahead established himself as an integral a part of the Reds’ success below each Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

That Díaz selected to include the music into his huge day factors to the particular relationship the participant cast with supporters throughout his 3½ years at Liverpool; a relationship that went from energy to energy final season because the 28-year-old’s aptitude and tenacity helped the membership to win a record-tying twentieth league title.

With that in thoughts, it can have been a shock to many to see the winger signal with Bayern Munich in a deal price €75 million on Wednesday. Much more stunning is the truth that it was Díaz who pushed for the transfer, with a supply telling ESPN the participant was “decided” to depart Anfield this summer season.

That Bayern have added one other winger to their attacking corps won’t come as a lot of a shock for a membership recognized for its explosive huge gamers, however that it’s Díaz, and never a youthful, brighter expertise, is. So what’s behind Díaz’s want for a recent problem? And are the Bundesliga champions getting a difference-maker in what’s their star signing this summer season?

Liverpool exit a yr within the making

Díaz loved a unprecedented begin to his Liverpool profession. The ahead was one thing of a shock addition to Klopp’s squad, with Liverpool transferring up their 2022 summer season switch plans after Tottenham Hotspur tried to signal the participant earlier that January.

Their choice to hijack Spurs’ deal shortly paid dividends as Díaz helped the membership to win a home cup double and attain the ultimate of the UEFA Champions League, the place it narrowly misplaced to Actual Madrid. Rapidly establishing a status for his devastating tempo and trickery on the left wing, Díaz turned a agency fan favourite.

However after sustaining a severe knee damage in October 2022, the ahead was pressured to spend seven months on the sidelines and, upon his return, struggled to recapture his blistering type. Díaz’s struggles had been compounded by issues off the pitch in October 2023 when his father, Luis Manuel “Mane” Díaz, was held hostage for nearly two weeks by the Nationwide Liberation Military in Colombia.

Sources instructed ESPN that, by the summer season of 2024, Díaz was keen to depart Merseyside. He appreciated the thought of a transfer to LaLiga, and his father instructed Win Sports activities it was his “dream” to play for Barcelona.

For some time, it seemed as if Liverpool had been making ready for his exit. Sources instructed ESPN the membership received so far as agreeing to a £75 million deal in precept to signal left winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United final July, however the deal finally collapsed after Newcastle eased their PSR considerations via the transfers of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, respectively.

With no appropriate replacements accessible, Liverpool fought to maintain Díaz at Anfield, and it was a call that was shortly vindicated. The Colombia worldwide delivered his best season in a purple shirt final season, scoring 17 targets in all competitions and taking part in the second-most Premier League minutes of any Liverpool ahead (behind solely Mohamed Salah) as Slot’s facet romped to the title.

Regardless of having performed such a key function in Liverpool’s triumph, it was all the time seemingly this summer season could be decisive in Díaz’ future. With solely two years left on his present contract, the Anfield hierarchy had an enormous choice to make.

For years, there was debate over the ahead’s wage packet, with some stories suggesting he was pocketing a weekly wage of £55,000 — a comparatively nominal quantity for an elite participant. Whereas a supply instructed ESPN this determine is wrong, suggesting that the quantity is round £140,000 every week, it is clear there was a major discrepancy between the participant’s calls for and the wage Liverpool had been keen to supply a participant who will flip 29 in January.

Sources instructed ESPN that two makes an attempt to agree a contract extension failed and, whereas Liverpool initially got here into the summer season unwilling to half with their No. 7, there was an growing inevitability to his departure. The Reds rebuffed an early advance from Barcelona and rejected Bayern’s opening provide of €67.5 million.

However when the German membership returned to the negotiating desk with an improved bid, Liverpool reluctantly determined to simply accept, sensing a chance to make revenue on a participant who might be nearing the tip of his peak. His departure will assist stability a few of Liverpool’s spending this summer season, with the Premier League champions having spent round £290 million on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Hugo Ekitike.

There may be additionally a way that the extra funds — coupled with any additional income generated by the seemingly departures of fellow forwards Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa — might assist Liverpool finance a deal for long-term striker goal Alexander Isak, though Newcastle would first have to point a willingness to do a deal for the Sweden worldwide this summer season. — Beth Lindop

Díaz poses important danger for Bayern

Regardless of how Bayern Munich attempt to spin this signing within the coming days, Díaz was definitely not their first selection. After failing to safe Wirtz, their No. 1 switch goal, Bayern needed to change course and take a look at alternate options, with the likes of Nico Williams, Rafael Leão and Bradley Barcola on the high of the record.

Because it turned clear that not one of the three had been accessible or keen to maneuver to Munich, Bayern started on the lookout for alternate options to their alternate options. They ultimately settled on Díaz, who appeared fairly flattered by the curiosity from the Bundesliga champions and able to transfer on from Anfield.

Figuring out that few choices had been left, Bayern didn’t depart the negotiating desk after their opening provide was rejected by the Premier League champions. As an alternative, they submitted an improved bid whereas hoping that Díaz would categorical to Liverpool’s decision-makers his want to depart, which he did.

After the departures of Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané and Mathys Tel in current weeks, Bayern knew they’d so as to add to their assault. And after Jamal Musiala suffered a fractured leg within the Membership World Cup quarterfinals in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain, the strain on Bayern director of sport Max Eberl elevated much more.

Eberl takes a substantial danger by signing Díaz due to the dimensions of the monetary dedication. Díaz is anticipated to earn €14 million earlier than taxes, a supply instructed ESPN, a 66% improve from his wage at Liverpool. The Bavarian membership really needed to decrease their payroll this summer season, provided that they’ve various gamers with annual salaries within the eight digits, however Díaz’s contract continues the pattern.

Eberl has confronted criticism for his negotiating and squad-building expertise, and as soon as once more, it seems as if he has struck a median deal at greatest. Díaz will probably be 32 when his four-year contract expires, making it unlikely that he may have a lot worth ought to he should be moved.

Bayern have had a proclivity for wingers since they signed Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry within the late 2000s and kickstarted a interval of success. As Robben and Ribéry aged out, the likes of Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry and Sané took over, and it appears as if head coach Vincent Kompany desires to proceed placing an emphasis on explosive huge gamers. Michael Olise joined Bayern final summer season and was arguably their greatest participant in his first season on the membership.

One supply instructed ESPN that that Kompany was in favor of including Díaz to the squad. Not solely can he play on the left, however he has additionally confirmed to be a reliable striker, making 15 begins as a No. 9 in Slot’s crew final season. One would possibly even argue that Díaz is extra harmful coming via the center than from the left as of late. No matter his place, he’s seen as an efficient presser who will match into Bayern’s system.

Throughout the Membership World Cup, Kompany experimented with a 4-4-2, with Gnabry and Harry Kane taking part in up entrance. Díaz may very well be another choice for a task subsequent to Kane, particularly if Bayern don’t handle to signal ahead Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart.

The worst case for Eberl could be his most costly signing this summer season having a median season and never instantly justifying the excessive contract worth. On the identical time, Kompany runs the chance of alienating youthful gamers if he is not keen to provide any of the present crop of academy graduates an opportunity.

Bayern possess just a few promising prospects in attacking midfield, most notably 19-year-old Paul Wanner, however it seems that alternatives with the primary crew will probably be restricted. And the possibilities of them seeing the sphere any time quickly have decreased with Díaz’s arrival. — Constantin Eckner