Luis Diaz: Proof that Salah is leaving Liverpool or Mane’s successor?

Stefan Bienkowski

• 31 Jan 2022 04:24 CST
• 7 min read

Liverpool blew the January transfer window wide open over the weekend when they confirmed the signing of Porto winger Luis Diaz.

Signed for no less than €45 million, the Anfield club clearly think their new Colombian recruit will be able to make an immediate impact in Jurgen Klopp’s side, as they look to gain ground on Manchester City in the title race between now and May.

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However, while Liverpool fans will be excited to see what Diaz can do in the here and now, some may wonder what his arrival means for the long-term future of their team. And whether this new recruit suggests some major changes are just around the corner.

What kind of player is Luis Diaz

Since making the move to Porto in 2019, Diaz has been nothing less than remarkable for the Portuguese giants, bagging 41 goals and 19 assists in 125 games across all competitions.

However, it’s been in the last season that we’ve seen the 25-year-old really step up a gear and earn his move to the Premier League, with no less than 16 goals and six assists in 28 games.

Diaz has achieved this remarkable feat exclusively from the left wing, where he has played as a wide playmaker or as a classic winger. And that’s probably what he’ll continue doing for the Anfield side.

Could he be a Salah or Mane replacement?

Naturally, Liverpool signing a forward of this quality and for such a remarkable amount of money has led to the inevitable comparisons with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, whose futures are still in doubt with neither player yet extending their contracts beyond their expiration dates in 2023.

However, in this instance, the comparison may actually be quite accurate. Diaz’s role for Porto was almost identical to what Salah and Mane have been providing in Klopp’s Liverpool team for some time. And in many ways, Diaz could be a ready-made replacement for either player.

What perhaps hints at Diaz being a potential replacement for Mane over Salah is that Diaz seems to prefer playing on the left wing, like the Senegal international. And, unlike Salah, Mane’s own form has begun to dip in recent years at Anfield.

So is Diaz the long-term successor to Mane’s left wing role? It’s impossible to tell for certain, but at this moment in time it certainly looks likely.