Will Liverpool Miss Luis Diaz After Bayern Munich Move Confirmed?

Only one Liverpool player scored more goals than Luis Diaz as Arne Slot’s team strolled to last season’s Premier League title. Mohamed Salah found the back of the net 29 times, but the Colombian winger’s contribution was also extremely valuable as he registered 13 goals (17 in all competitions) across the 2024/25 campaign.

This was to be Diaz’s final season as a Liverpool player with the 28-year-old’s transfer to Bayern Munich confirmed on Wednesday. The German champions have paid a reported €75m for the Colombian, representing good business for the Reds. Liverpool might now use that money to capture top target Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

Nonetheless, it should be recognised that Diaz’s departure leaves a hole in Liverpool’s forward line that will be difficult to fill. He was Slot’s first-choice option on the left side of the attack last season and so there’s an open spot in the lineup of the defending Premier League champions heading into the new campaign.

Hugo Ekitike could operate in that role after making the summer switch from Eintracht Frankfurt. However, the French youngster is better through the middle. That’s where he played in the Bundesliga last season during which Ekitike forged a stronger understanding with Omar Marmoush in a front two.

Cody Gakpo is the frontrunner to be Slot’s primary starter on the left wing. However, the Netherlands international is another attacker who is perhaps most comfortable operating in a more central position where he can get into the box and get on the end of goalscoring opportunities.

It might be that Slot and the decision makers at Anfield have a masterplan on how to fit all this attacking talent into the same team, but the exit of Diaz makes the equation a little harder to solve. Could Slot move his forward line into a front two to make use of Ekitike and Isak with Salah as a drifting attacker between the frontline and the midfield?

Liverpool has earned a reputation for being the best-run club in the Premier League. Its transfer model has got it to the point that it can outspend its rivals in the transfer window this summer with Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez among the most eye-catching signings anywhere in the Premier League.

There’s two weeks until Liverpool starts the defence of its 2024/25 title and there’s the potential for Slot’s team to be a frightening prospect. However, there are still a lot of moving pieces yet to settle. The departure of Diaz followed by the arrival of Isak would increase the intrigue around this puzzle.