Barcelona have failed in a bid to sign Liverpool winger Luis Díaz, sources have told ESPN, with the player later saying he is open to a move away from Anfield this summer.
Díaz, 28, has emerged as a leading target for the LaLiga champions, who are also considering a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
But sources have told ESPN that Liverpool have rejected an approach from the Spanish club this week and made it clear that they have no intention of offloading the Colombia international.
Díaz, a £37.5 million ($50.9m) signing from FC Porto in January 2022, was a key figure in Liverpool’s Premier League title success this season, with only Mohamed Salah scoring more than his 13 league goals.
While Liverpool are expected to offload Darwin Núñez this summer, head coach Arne Slot wants to retain Díaz in his squad and the club are under no pressure to listen to offers for the player.
Speaking in a news conference on Thursday ahead of Colombia’s clash with Peru, Díaz confirmed that while he is happy to stay at Liverpool, he is being careful to evaluate his options this summer.
“Obviously I am very happy at Liverpool. I have always said that. From the first day I arrived I was always well received. Now we are in contact with them because obviously we are speaking to clubs. This is normal because the transfer market is open and we are trying to see what is the best for us,” Díaz said.
“As I said, I am only waiting to see if it can be done. If Liverpool offers me a good contract renewal or if I have to stay for the two years I have remaining with them, I will be happy and content. It all depends on them. I am here to decide and to see what is best for us and my future.”
Liverpool continue to lead the chase for Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz, who is on international duty with Germany in the UEFA Nations League until after Sunday’s third-place playoff against Spain or France in Stuttgart.
Clubs are able to complete transfers before the early-June window closes next Tuesday.
The early-June window, introduced this summer primarily to enable teams participating in the FIFA Club World Cup to bolster their squads, closes on June 10 before reopening on June 16 until September 1.