Ornstein delivers SURPRISE Liverpool transfer update

Tom Weber

Updated: 1 May 2024 15:22 BST
4 min read

Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Liverpool, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Liverpool are looking to sign a wide player this summer, according to David Ornstein.

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The Reds are set for a big transfer window. The expected arrival of Arne Slot will herald a new era at Anfield and the club's new recruitment set-up is expected to provide the Dutchman with the players to launch a title bid next term.

One of the key pieces in Slot's team will be Mohamed Salah. Recent reports have confirmed FootballTransfers' reporting from January that the Liverpool legend intends on staying for the foreseeable future, though there continues to be interest in his services from Saudi Arabia.

However, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Pro League sides won't be as forceful in their pursuit of the 31-year-old as they were last summer. "Let’s put some perspective on this," he said on The Athletic FC podcast, "when they went for him so aggressively in the summer of 2023, that was largely because that specific team that wanted to sign him, Al-Ittihad, had on the horizon the Club World Cup in December of 2023."

“They were in the same competition as the likes of Manchester City, they wanted Salah as part of their roster to go and attack that competition and that produced some urgency that isn’t there this time around.”

Salah in, Diaz out?

With Salah staying, it could instead be Luis Diaz who may depart Anfield this summer. The Colombian dreams of playing for Barcelona and the Blaugrana have been linked with him in recent times, as have PSG. According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool aren't really keen on selling the winger.

Ornstein, however, states that there is quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding Diaz's future and he has revealed that Liverpool are in the market for a wide player, though he has not yet been able to confirm whether this is due to a potential exit of the winger or because the Reds simply want to strengthen in that department.

“I’ve already heard from multiple contacts they’re looking for a wide player. I don’t know if that’s to add to what they’ve already got; is it because there’s been speculation around the future of Luis Diaz, who’s yet to sign a new contract, which is quite unusual for a player who’s done so well? He’s been linked with moves elsewhere; let’s wait and see on that.”