Liverpool have agreed to sell Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich in a deal worth €75 million.
The Columbian has been given permission to leave the Reds’ pre-season tour of Asia and has now flown to Germany to discuss personal terms with the Bundesliga champions.
The breakthrough came after Bayern had an initial offer of €67.5 million turned down by the Anfield hierarchy last week.
Díaz has two years left on his current contract but, with Liverpool unwilling to offer him improved terms on a new deal, Bayern seized their chance, returned with a better bid, and the winger is now set to depart England.
Díaz out of Liverpool squad
Rumours around Díaz had intensified on Saturday when Arne Slot left him out of the squad for the 4-2 pre-season defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong.
Speaking after the game, the Reds’ head coach confirmed that Díaz’s omission was not injury related.
He told journalists: “In Díaz’s situation, there’s a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that. He’s training really well with us but we have decided for now not to play him yet.”
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Slot makes case for defence
Díaz’s departure will only heighten speculation that the Reds are preparing a bid for want-away Newcastle forward Alexander Isak, but many Reds fans would prefer Slot to strengthen his squad at the other end of the pitch.
Joe Gomez’s early departure from the tour with a slight Achilles injury means the Dutchman only has two senior centre-backs to call on – captain Virgil van Dyk and Ibrahima Konaté.
Liverpool continue to be linked with Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi, but Slot insisted he was happy with his defensive options, despite the sale of Jarrel Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen last month.
He said: “I don’t think we have a concern at centre-back. In terms of depth? I think Ryan [Gravenberch] showed today that he can play in that position. He did it last season as well. Although we all know we favour him as a number six. Wata [Endo] can play there. Joe Gomez only has a minor injury.”
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Rio Ngumoha catches the eye
One player who has done his chances of a regular place in Slot’s plans for next season no harm is teenage winger Rio Ngumoha.
The 16-year-old made his one-and-only appearance for the first team in the 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup last season, but he has featured prominently in all three of Liverpool’s pre-season games so far, scoring in the behind-closed-doors win over Stoke City last week and providing an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai against Milan.
And veteran left-back Andy Robertson has certainly been impressed with what he has seen.
He told the Anfield Wrap: “He’s a good kid and he’s got a fantastic head on his shoulders, and especially when he’s got people like Mo Salah who can help him so much as well.
“We always try to help him and Trey [Nyoni] – they’re so young but they’re such good kids and they have got a hell of a future ahead of themselves.”
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