Liverpool star ‘directly contacts’ Reds board members to request £25m price cut to force move…

Liverpool star reaches out to Reds board members to request a £25m reduction in price to facilitate a transfer.

Luis Diaz, the Liverpool winger, is reportedly urging the Reds to lower their asking price this summer to enable a move to Barcelona.

The Reds have already secured the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen this summer after clinching the Premier League title under Arne Slot.

Additional reinforcements are anticipated, with Liverpool nearing agreements for Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth’s left-back Milos Kerkez.

However, the Reds may need to offload some of Slot’s current squad to maintain their pace of acquisitions, with Diaz being one player linked to other clubs.

Barcelona’s sporting director Deco disclosed last month that both the Liverpool winger and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford are on his list of summer targets.

Deco stated to RAC1 in May: “We are interested in Luis [Diaz], we are interested in [Marcus] Rashford, and we have other players in mind. When we enter the market, there are names we recognize that could enhance the team.”

In response to Deco’s remarks, Liverpool manager Arne Slot commented: “Every club has its own approach. You know that I refrain from discussing players from other clubs that we haven’t acquired.

“I understand he holds Lucho Diaz in high regard – as do I. He is an exceptional player, enjoying a fantastic season.

“Deco admires several players, as we all do. I have great admiration for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha as well!”

Last week, Liverpool winger Diaz downplayed the prospect of leaving Anfield, expressing that he would be “happy” to remain with the Reds for at least another two years.

Diaz remarked: “I’m extremely happy in Liverpool. From the very first day, they have made me feel incredibly welcome.

“At the moment, we are in discussions with them as we are communicating with [other] clubs.

“It’s a normal process; the market is open, and we are working to determine what is best for us.

“I am simply waiting to see what unfolds. If Liverpool does not present a satisfactory offer, I still have two years remaining with them, and I would be pleased and content to remain there.

“And that’s the situation — everything hinges on them, clearly. It is my responsibility to determine what is best for us and our future.”

Sky Sports reported last week that Liverpool had ‘rejected’ an ‘approach’ from Barcelona, but sources in Spain claimed that the Catalan club was ‘unfazed’ by this.

Now, another report from Spain suggests that Diaz ‘desires to join’ Barcelona this summer and is ‘prepared to quietly advocate for his club to lower his asking price from €80m (£68m) to approximately €50m (£43m), a sum that is more manageable for the Camp Nou finances’.

Diaz has ‘reached out to members of the Liverpool board directly’ to ‘convey his wish for a change of environment and to don the Blaugrana’ and ‘that he now aims to advance in his career’.

The Liverpool winger has ‘requested a reassessment of his market value’ and the ‘gesture has been well received, as the relationship between Diaz and the English club remains respectful, and the request is professional, devoid of threats or confrontational actions’.

Barcelona is optimistic that Diaz’s pressure on the Liverpool management ‘can sway the balance’ in the La Liga team’s favour, with a €50m transfer being ‘a sound and reasonable investment, provided it is facilitated through player sales or salary cap adjustments’.