This past summer, Liverpool considered an astonishing proposal that would have delighted Arne Slot.
The club made significant strategic moves during the summer, with some of those decisions initiated before the season even began.
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One of their major choices was to extend the contracts of Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah for an additional two years. While this kept both players on substantial salaries, their key contributions in the previous season left Liverpool with little alternative.
But the club wasn’t done there. They shattered their transfer record by purchasing Florian Wirtz before June and then topped that again at the end of the transfer window by signing Alexander Isak.
Record fees were also spent on both left-back and right-back positions, with Hugo Ekitike arriving for a substantial sum.
Interestingly, Liverpool also contemplated one more significant investment before ultimately opting not to proceed.
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Luis Diaz’s Contract Situation
Luis Diaz had a contract with Liverpool until 2027, but he was still on the initial deal from his arrival at the club in 2022. His salary did not match that of other players of his caliber, which made negotiations challenging, especially since the Colombian was seeking a significant pay increase.
Ultimately, Liverpool decided to transfer Diaz to Bayern Munich, securing a fee in the process. However, the Telegraph reports that they considered awarding him a lucrative new contract instead.
They even debated a deal that ‘could have amounted to around £400,000,’ putting him in the same salary bracket as Salah.
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Although it’s not surprising that Liverpool chose against that option, one has to wonder if Arne Slot is wishing they had gone through with it. He’s expressed his concern over the absence of Diaz this season, stating, “You always miss good players. He was so important for us last season.”
Indeed, Diaz played a critical role, being one of the few players who actively sought out one-on-one opportunities and provided the direct dribbling that the team currently lacks.
Ultimately, Liverpool did not find a replacement for him, a decision that could end up costing them more than the proposed contract would have.