At various points during the second half of the season, pundits were queuing up to suggest Luis Diaz was one of THE January transfer window signings.
That is modern football commentary for you. Something either has to be the best or the worst. There is no fair to middling. But for all the early acclaim, in the case of Diaz, the jury should still be out.
For now, the only certain thing you can say about the Colombian is that he is eye-catching: quick, flashy, he can certainly beat a man or two.
He could well turn out to be a world-beater but let’s hang fire on that score. Diaz averaged an assist every five-and-a-half hours in the Premier League and a goal every four hours. For Liverpool, he scored two goals and made one assist in six-and-a-half hours of Champions League football.
He made a bright start to the Champions League final but faded badly and was hooked not long after the hour mark. Diaz will take time to settle into the Premier League and into Jurgen Klopp’s style of play. He might have the sort of long-term impact for Liverpool that has been made by Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane but let’s wait and see.
It is, though, unlikely he will be overly prolific. So, if Mane leaves, Klopp will have to act. Having finished a close second in the Premier League, having won the FA Cup and League Cup and having been narrowly beaten in the Champions League final, there is hardly a crisis at Anfield; quite the opposite.
With Klopp in charge for at least four more years, the future will be as thrilling as this past season. But if Mane does indeed go, it WILL be a big deal for Klopp and Liverpool. Any idea that, having signed Diaz and with Diogo Jota on the books, Klopp could make do with what he would be left with is fanciful.
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Bear in mind, not only is Erling Haaland lining up for Manchester City next season, Argentinian forward Julian Alvarez will also be at Pep Guardiola’s disposal. The 22-year-old, bought from River Plate for £14million and then loaned back, scored six goals in one Copa Libertadores game last month.
It goes without saying that City are, once again, going to be a quite formidable attacking force next season. And don’t forget, next season. Guardiola will be able to send on five substitutes if he wishes. Because of that farcical rule, strength in depth will be even more crucial. The arrival of 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho will give Klopp another option but if Mane does leave, Klopp will need more guaranteed firepower.
Darwin Nunez, linked with Manchester United and who showed up well for Benfica against Liverpool, is an obvious option.
Even if, unlikely as it seems, Mane stays, Nunez is the type of player Liverpool need if they are to continue keeping pace with City. Despite those disappointments right at the end, it was a fantastic season for Liverpool. But such is the way of the modern football world, Liverpool will need to re-invest in a sizeable fashion if they are to have a repeat.
