Liverpool Face £200,000-per-week Contract Dilemma as Transfer Rumours Persist | OneFootball

Should Luis Díaz Get an Elite Level Contract?

As Liverpool lifts their 20th English league title and Arne Slot celebrates a remarkable debut season on Merseyside, attention quickly shifts from silverware to squad stability. The need to build from a position of power and allow long-term fruition, especially when the likes of Manchester United stumble around looking for relevancy. While speculation swirls around Darwin Núñez and Federico Chiesa’s futures, another decision looms larger than most: what to do with Luis Díaz. The Colombian winger, a standout performer in 2024/25, remains on the modest terms he signed after arriving from FC Porto. Now entering the final two years of his deal, the club faces a definitive call—cash in for around £60 million or reward his contribution with a new contract pushing £200,000 per week, with a current salary of £55,000 per week ongoing.

It’s not just a financial question. It’s a signal of intent and what the 28-year-old can offer in this transitional stage.

A Consistent Contributor in a Team of Champions

Luis Díaz’s season has been one of evolution, endurance, and end product under new leadership. Slot’s system, more structured than Klopp’s high-octane chaos, has allowed the flying winger to demonstrate both discipline and flair. Whether operating off the left flank or drifting centrally to combine with Salah, Díaz has been consistently involved in key moments—from match-winning goals to intelligent defensive work that suits the Dutchman’s tactical requirements. The false nine positions of old have been recreated by the versatile Colombian, who can find pockets of space against teams willing to push up the field and engage.

While others have been rotated or suffered dips in form, Díaz has quietly become one of Liverpool’s most reliable performers. In a season where adaptability has been essential, his versatility and willingness to press make him a critical cog in the Slot machine. Unlike Núñez, whose inconsistency has left him vulnerable to transfer market interest, Díaz has provided balance and become a first-pick central striker ahead of both Darwin and Diogo Jota. Losing him in the same window as Chiesa and others would represent not just an attacking hole, but a stylistic imbalance—especially as Arne Slot seems to favour wide forwards who understand when to hug the touchline and when to collapse inwards.

Photo: IMAGO

The Colombian’s low-maintenance professionalism, allied with his popularity in the dressing room, has made him an ideal cultural fit—perhaps a quiet leader in a squad now moving into its next cycle. A decision may be made to reward his success and perhaps sell in a year or two when the Saudi Pro League will still offer a substantial fee for his services.

Barcelona, Saudi Interest, and the Growing Threat of Temptation

Barcelona’s admiration for Díaz is no secret. In a summer where they are expected to sell before buying, the Catalan club may see Díaz as a smart option if Raphinha or Ferran Torres are moved on. Their financial situation remains precarious, but if Liverpool signals openness to selling, they’ll be among the first to ask the question. So will Saudi Pro League clubs—armed with money and intent on acquiring ready-made stars in their late 20s.

For Díaz, the next contract will define his peak years. A £200K-a-week offer from Liverpool wouldn’t just be a reward—it would be a deterrent against external disruption. It also reflects the new wage reality at Anfield. With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk now re-signed on improved terms, the wage ceiling has shifted. Retaining Díaz on competitive money doesn’t distort the structure—it affirms it. Especially as Liverpool works to tie down Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté, the club must show consistency in how it rewards its most important assets.

The two-year window left on Díaz’s deal is dangerous. Extend him now, or risk a depreciating asset and months of uncertainty.

Slot’s Stability Plan and the Cost of Letting Go

With Núñez and Chiesa expected to depart, a mass reset of the forward line could destabilise what Slot has built in just one year. The Dutchman has restored structure, harmony, and intensity—and players like Díaz are central to maintaining that equilibrium with performances befitting a title-winning team. Unless Liverpool are confident of signing two wide forwards of equal or greater quality this summer, a sale makes questionable footballing sense.

Financially, £60 million may be a tempting figure, especially for a player at 28 years of age. But in the context of Liverpool’s ambitions—to re-establish domestic dominance and make deep Champions League runs—continuity has its value. A new contract for Díaz, even at £200K per week, is a statement of vision. It says Liverpool aren’t just reacting to the market; they’re defining it.

Rewarding players who deliver across 50-game seasons isn’t a gamble—it’s a policy.

And in Luis Díaz’s case, it may pay dividends long after the ink dries.