Liverpool take pole position for £50m man Diaz

LIVERPOOL have made a dramatic late move to gazump Tottenham and Manchester United with an attempt to sign Colombia international Luis Diaz. Jurgen Klopp’s side have agreed a fee of £37.5million plus £12.5m in add-ons for the Porto winger. Diaz is on international duty in South America and Liverpool have sent a delegation to meet him to conduct a medical. The 25-year-old has been on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs and Tottenham and United had made their interest in Diaz firmly known in this window. United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick was determined to get Diaz but Liverpool’s late entrance into the bidding has completely changed the dynamic. There is still a significant amount of work to be done and the next 48 hours will be crucial in determining whether Liverpool will be successful in adding Diaz, who played against them in the Champions League earlier this season, to their squad. Should Liverpool pilfer Diaz, it will enrage Spurs manager Antonio Conte, who has already seen his club miss out on Adama Traore and is yet to make an addition to enliven his squad in their pursuit of a top-four place. Diaz, who is fast and direct and capable of scoring spectacular goals, would freshen up Liverpool’s forward line and provide competition for Sadio Mane, who has entered the final 18 months of his contract. Jurgen Klopp has been tightlipped over Liverpool’s transfer dealings this month but the final few days are likely to be busy, with Leeds showing an interest in signing Takumi Minamino on loan and Atalanta pursuing Divock Origi. But it is Diaz who will excite the fans at Anfield. The winger is widely regarded as Colombia’s best player and was the joint top scorer at the Copa America last year, finishing level with Lionel Messi on four goals.