Liverpool could still face a number of potential stumbling blocks in their efforts to finalise the signing of Porto winger Luis Diaz, according to reports. The 24-year-old, who is currently in South America on international duty with Colombia, is said to be closing in on a permanent move to Anfield ahead of Monday’s all-important deadline.
Liverpool have reportedly agreed a fee of £37.4million plus another £12.5m in add-ons to land Diaz, who has scored 16 goals in all competitions for Porto since the beginning of the campaign.
He has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest talents in recent years and gained plenty of admirers on the international stage with Colombia at last summer’s Copa America.
A number of elite clubs have been credited with an interest in Diaz over the last few months, but it appears that the race for his signature could now be all but over.
A deal between Porto and Liverpool is said to be nearing completion, with the Reds expected to send a delegation to Argentina in order to oversee Diaz’s medical this weekend.
However, it seems as though there is plenty of room for the situation to take a negative twist over the coming days.
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Liverpool still believe the move is ‘fraught with problems’ that could put an end to their hopes of rubber-stamping the proposed switch at the last moment, according to the Liverpool Echo.
It is said that the rushed nature of their approach for Diaz and the logistical reality of sending members of staff across the world at short notice could throw up a multitude of issues before the deal is finalised.
Diaz is believed to have his heart set on a move to Liverpool after being informed of their desire to snap him up by his representatives just days ago.
Nonetheless, it is understood to be a transfer that is still very much in the balance, with a number of formalities left to complete before Diaz can be officially unveiled as a Liverpool player.
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The Reds decided to accelerate their interest in the Porto man earlier this week after it became clear that Tottenham and Manchester United were planning approaches of their own.
Diaz was said to have already been identified as a target by Liverpool, who were initially prepared to wait until the summer before making any formal enquiries.
His expected arrival on Merseyside will see him become only the ninth January signing of Jurgen Klopp’s six-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the club.
Liverpool were forced into late moves for Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak at the end of last year’s window, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip missing the vast majority of the season due to injury.
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They were not initially expecting to pursue any mid-season deals this month as a result of their ongoing bid to strike a long-term agreement over a new contract with Mohamed Salah.
The 29-year-old is only tied down until the summer of 2023 and has reportedly been locked in fruitless talks with the club’s hierarchy for a number of months.
It remains to be seen whether Diaz will ultimately emerge as the Egyptian maestro’s long-term replacement at Liverpool if a deal to extend the latter’s stay is not agreed before the end of next season.
Diaz will be hoping to make his debut for the Reds in their FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Cardiff City at Anfield following the conclusion of the winter break.
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