‘Surely’: Some Liverpool fans think they’ve worked out what shirt number Luis Diaz will wear next season

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Luis Diaz is a Liverpool player. These are not words we thought we’d be typing during the January transfer window.

But Liverpool moved quickly to make sure their “first choice for the summer” (Sky Sports News via Football daily) wouldn’t move elsewhere before then.

The deal was confirmed yesterday after months of speculation.

Shortly after the signing was announced, Liverpool confirmed that the Colombian would wear the number 23 shirt upon joining The Reds (liverpoolfc.com).

The shirt has an iconic previous occupier at Liverpool. Jamie Carragher wore the number with distinction for many years at the club.

Carra is never one to hide his feelings. The Sky Sports pundit weighed in on Diaz’s decision, saying on Twitter “Number 23! Luis Diaz must be very good!!”.

Fans expect a new number next season

Liverpool fans think this is just a temporary number for the 25-year-old though.

Diaz wore the number seven at Porto. The current occupier of that famous shirt is Liverpool vice-captain James Milner.

Goal reported yesterday that the 36-year-old is “expected to leave” once his contract runs out at the end of the season. As a result, fans have taken to Twitter to give their thoughts on what that means for the number Diaz will wear on his back.

Will Milner leave Liverpool

It makes sense that Milner would leave Liverpool this summer. The Yorkshireman has been an outstanding servant since joining on a free transfer in 2015.

But The Reds are looking ready for a shake-up of the squad. Milner has seen a surprising amount of game-time this season. But that is largely down to injuries elsewhere in the squad.

In an ideal world, he would only be used in emergencies. He is still fit and willing, but with his contract due to end this summer, it feels like time to move on.

It seems that Diaz was earmarked as a summer signing for Liverpool. That would have left the number seven free to take immediatley.

As things stand, 23 will do for now. Let’s just hope he’s a bit more prolific than Carragher was in it!