(Julian Alvarez Picture by Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs), (Luis Diaz Picture by Alex Pantling/Getty Photographs)
Liverpool’s summer time enterprise has been formed not solely by planning but additionally by moments the place our recruitment crew stood agency, with a brand new report now shining a light-weight on discussions involving Luis Diaz and Julian Alvarez.
In line with Chris Bascombe in The Telegraph, Manchester Metropolis as soon as tried to discover a transfer that would have seen the Colombian winger depart Anfield in a deal involving Alvarez. However Liverpool’s management made certain no such switch would ever occur.
Liverpool stand agency in Diaz and Alvarez discussions
Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and Arne Slot have been described because the “three smart males” steering our switch planning.
Their work has been constructed on Jurgen Klopp’s legacy of leaving the membership’s funds in glorious situation, enabling Liverpool to purpose for the most important names this summer time.
When drawing up their masterplan a 12 months in the past, the main focus was on endurance and gathering a full 12 months’s price of knowledge on gamers already on the membership and doable exterior targets.
That strategy finally delivered main offers equivalent to Florian Wirtz for a report charge, in addition to Alexander Isak to steer our assault on an excellent greater deal.
Bascombe experiences that one state of affairs in the summertime of 2024 briefly examined that strategy.
Metropolis had made it clear they’d not promote Alvarez to Liverpool, as an alternative shifting him on to Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool responded firmly when Metropolis recommended Diaz may change to the Etihad. “We don’t promote to rivals,” was Metropolis’s stance. “Neither can we then,” got here the Reds’ pithy reply.
Slot’s success strengthens Liverpool’s switch place
Alvarez was touted by former Reds as the perfect striker this summer time, earlier than we secured a transfer for the record-breaking Swede up prime.
The Argentine striker was talked about by senior journalists as a practical possibility and it’s now clear the membership have been, at the least at one stage, focused on finishing a deal.
Diaz remained at Anfield regardless of preliminary disappointment and went on to play his half in a Premier League title-winning marketing campaign underneath our Dutch boss.
That success gave the recruitment crew additional perception that elite signings have been real looking, reasonably than settling for stop-gap options.
With Florian Wirtz now sporting the No.7 shirt and Isak main the road, Liverpool’s refusal to bend in talks with Metropolis seems to be much more decisive.
The rejection of Alvarez set a tone of energy that has carried into this summer time’s record-breaking enterprise.
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