Liverpool ‘sit to negotiate’ at €50m for ‘Colombian Ronaldo’

Will Ford
Liverpool-linked Luis Diaz celebrates

Liverpool look as though they are winning the race to sign Luis Diaz, with reports claiming the Reds could look to sign the Porto star in January.

The Reds are among a host of top European clubs chasing the 24-year-old, who has 12 goals and two assists for Porto this season.


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But according to Sport Witness, Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra suggests Liverpool have stolen a march on their rivals as they ‘have asked’ Porto about the transfer, although there has been no official offer.

Sierra claims Liverpool can ‘sit to negotiate’ with Porto for around €50million, despite the €80m release clause placed on the man dubbed the ‘Colombian Cristiano Ronaldo’.

Porto ‘will not rule out’ finding a deal in January ahead of a move in the summer, but wouldn’t like to lose him mid-season.

That could put the Reds off, with a key reason for their pursuit said to be because they will likely lose one or both of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to the African Cup of Nations, so would prefer a January deal.

Meanwhile, Liverpool face Everton this week in the Merseyside derby, but Jurgen Klopp is ready to treat it like a normal game.

He said: “We know there are some special things around derbies but it’s a football game as well, that’s how we approach it. We understand the supporters’ soul and we try to fill their wishes.

“Derbies are in focus but we approach it like a [normal] football game.”

Klopp insists Liverpool will be focused on playing “good football” despite the physical nature of some derby matches.

He added: “I am not seeking joy during games. I can watch them back if they are good. Form matters, especially when it’s good. We have to play good football and we’re difficult to play against when we do. That’s what we try.”