The hype around Liverpool target Luis Diaz is absolutely justified

Add as preferred source on Google

Luis Diaz is reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool in 2022. So why is there so much hype around the Colombian?

Luis Diaz isn’t a name that many knew a year ago but the player has been a ‘revelation’ in 2021. That’s been enough to get his name in transfer roundups and he does appear destined for a big move.

Could that be to Liverpool?

Liverpool want Luis Diaz

Liverpool appear to want Luis Diaz, certainly. There have been reports dating back for some time now – at least November.

But recent reports from Record, A Bola and O Jogo in Portugal all claim there’s interest. Fabrizio Romano says they scouted him three times in 2021, while the Athletic believes Liverpool value Diaz at around £34m.

They’re not the only ones with interest, however. News broke this week that Tottenham Hotspur had put in a bid, potentially making the Reds look a little silly. Those Portuguese outlets, however, believe he’s more interested in Liverpool.

So why all of this fuss?

Is the hype real?

In a lot of ways, Diaz is the prototype signing for a club like Liverpool. On paper, he’s magnificent but there are a few little doubts that stop him from being a guaranteed success.

Let’s focus on the good, then. Diaz has 14 goals in 18 Primeira Liga games this season, all from the left wing. He’s added four assists, too, to prove himself as a wonderfully productive forward. Any team in the world would like that quality, assuming it translates to them.

But this is actually just a continuation of his rise. Diaz was named the ‘Revelation’ of Copa America 2021 as Colombia finished third. It’s easy to see why, too.

The Colombian was joint-top scorer with Lionel Messi but that only tells half the story. Some of his goals were utterly sensational.

This caught the eye in the group stage against Brazil, later earning Diaz a Puskas Award nomination:

Then came this in the semi-final against Argentina:

Before a spectacular strike in the 3rd-place Play-Off vs Peru:

Diaz, then, is a player who appears to be hitting his peak – or at least, he’s heading into his prime years in incredible style. He’s on an upward trend and the right club will fancy getting another level out of him.

Liverpool specialise in just that. They’re a club that thrive on signing players who are just about to hit their best years and then improving them tenfold.

We’ve seen it with every forward at the club and Diaz feels like a prime candidate to be next. At 25, Liverpool could get at least five brilliant years out of him – and potentially more.

Though, there are doubts. Diaz exploded into life under a year ago, leaving a small sample size. He’s also yet to show what he can do in the Champions League or in a bigger league than Portugal’s. But those are why he’s attainable, honestly, as if he ticked those boxes, too, we’d be looking at a £100m player.

The hype around Diaz feels genuine, in other words. He’s doing incredible things and doing them consistently. If Liverpool can get this one done, they might have their next star.