Liverpool are 'closing in on £60m deal for Porto winger Luis Diaz' with the Colombian 'seen as an excellent substitute for Africa Cup of Nations-bound duo Mo Salah and Sadio Mane'
- Liverpool are reportedly seeking to signal Porto star Luis Diaz for £60million
- The Colombian winger is among the hottest properties in Europe for the time being
- Experiences declare Jurgen Klopp was seeking to signal the 24-year-old in the summertime
- However with Salah and Mane AFCON-bound, a transfer could possibly be made in January
Liverpool are reportedly near touchdown a £60million deal for Porto's star winger Luis Diaz.
The Colombian is one in all Europe's hottest properties and his good performances during the last 12 months has caught the attention of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Based on the Solar, Klopp was getting ready to make a transfer for 24-year-old in the summertime however with star duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane off to the Africa Cup of Nations, a transfer for Diaz is about to be made on this month's window.
The report goes on to say that Diaz is considered as the proper stand-in for Salah and Mane, given he has 12 objectives and 4 assists to his identify from 15 video games with the Premeira Liga aspect this season.
Klopp acquired a front-row seat of Diaz when Porto took on Liverpool within the Champions League group stage video games again in September and November - and was reportedly left impressed by his performances.
And whereas the German was mentioned to be holding out for a transfer on the finish of the season, the absence of two of his star attacking duo for this month's AFCON has left Klopp to determine to splash the money.
Diaz reportedly has a £67m launch clause however Liverpool are hoping to get him for barely much less. He has two and a half years left on his present cope with the Portuguese giants.
Final season, Diaz managed to attain 11 objectives whereas racking up six assists in all competitions earlier than occurring to shine in final summer season's Copa America, the place he completed because the competitors's joint-top scorer with 4 objectives alongside Lionel Messi.
He is gone from energy to energy since returning to membership soccer, netting 14 objectives and producing 5 assists in 24 appearances in all competitions up to now this season.
Liverpool could possibly be with out Salah and Mane for as much as seven video games if their respective nations make it to the ultimate of AFCON.
Whereas the Reds are reportedly concentrating on Diaz, assistant coach Pep Lijnders is constructive they've the firepower to offset the lack of Mane and Salah.
'You possibly can attempt to plan it however you'll be able to by no means put together it,' Lijnders mentioned following the 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
'It's not a fear as a result of we place confidence in the boys we've and some boys are coming again as effectively.
'We all know that sure gamers can play extra offensively as effectively, they've been taking part in in midfield however they'll play extra offensively as effectively.
'I simply advised the boys Naby, Mo and Sadio that they need to attempt to win the AFCON as a result of it's a prize to catch and the careers are by no means lengthy and so they need to combat for every prize.
'This prize now is available in entrance of them - it is a match with a lot ardour, a lot tradition and it's a actually proud state of affairs in case you can play on your nation, if it is England or Germany or Holland or whoever and that is what they've and really feel.
'So they're African legends, they're legends for me, but when they win it they may in all probability be even larger legends so they need to attempt with all they should win it.'
