A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Jurgen Klopp is dealt a blow before his last game in charge and the Reds delay making a key decision about appointing Arne Slot.
Liverpool star Luis Diaz is ready to force a transfer to FC Barcelona
Colombia forward Luis Diaz is prepared to force a switch away from Liverpool if FC Barcelona target a transfer. That is according to GiveMeSport, which claims the 27-year-old is happy to go to extreme lengths to play at Camp Nou next season if Xavi Hernandez can afford a deal.
Diaz is publicly declaring that he is happy at Anfield but his private desires are to relocate to Catalunya this summer. Even though Liverpool do not want to sell the winger, the club even sense his dream is to join Barcelona. Yet the Reds’ tag price could deny the Blaugrana a deal.
Liverpool have Diaz under contract until 2027, so will demand a premium to part with him in the off-season. The 47-cap dynamo is even limiting his options as a transfer to fellow suitors Paris Saint-Germain does not appeal to Diaz. He only has his eyes on Barcelona this summer.
Read more about Diaz’s desire to secure a transfer to Barcelona, here.
Diogo Jota and four teammates could miss Jurgen Klopp’s final Liverpool game
Liverpool may be without five first-team stars including Diogo Jota as Jurgen Klopp oversees his final game as their manager against Wolves on Sunday. That is according to the Liverpool ECHO, which claims Bobby Clark, Thiago Alcantara, Ben Doak and Joel Matip will be missing.
Anfield chiefs had hoped to have Jota back for their 3-3 draw at Aston Villa this Monday. But the Reds now realise that the 27-year-old is ‘increasingly unlikely’ to feature again this term. He has been absent since late April after suffering yet another injury after scoring at Fulham.
Jota had only just returned from an injury before suffering another blow in Liverpool’s win at Fulham. Now, his campaign is likely over following 32 appearances yielding 15 goals and four assists. Klopp has been without the Portuguese star in 23 fixtures this season due to injuries.
Read more about the latest news regarding Jota’s injury at Liverpool, here.
Why Liverpool have not confirmed Arne Slot is replacing Jurgen Klopp
Feyenoord boss Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp as the manager of Liverpool is ‘done’. That is according to Ben Jacobs, who claims that the 45-year-old will be in charge at Anfield next season. But the Reds are reluctant to confirm his appointment until after Klopp’s final game.
Liverpool are consciously avoiding overshadowing Klopp’s farewell match at home to Wolves on Sunday by confirming Slot’s arrival. The deal is done for Slot to take over but the Reds are delaying the decision on when to announce his arrival as they strive to honour Klopp’s reign.
Finding a successor for the German before the term concludes was Liverpool’s only priority. So, the Merseyside outfit will not rush to announce a done deal whilst Klopp is preparing to bid goodbye. Feyenoord will also finish what will be Slot’s final season in charge on May 19.
Read more about Liverpool’s decision to hold off on announcing Slot’s appointment, here.