Liverpool standout Luis Diaz’s name is in the transfer rumor mill as the Colombian could be on the way out of Anfield before the summer window closes. Should the attacker leave the Reds, they’ll obviously need to replace him.
On Wednesday’s edition of ESPN FC, the panel speculated whether Liverpool will pursue Real Madrid’s Rodrygo as a potential replacement for Diaz. The Brazilian is another name that might be on the move, considering he will probably struggle for minutes as a starter.
Although Rodrygo is a top talent for the La Liga team and a regular call-up for the Brazilian national team, would a potential move to Liverpool improve the reigning Premier League champions’ squad? ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol believes it’s a step backward if the Reds want to replace Diaz with Rodrygo.
“I would rather have Luis Diaz. Listen, if I’m picking the team tomorrow, I’m picking Luis Diaz over Rodrygo,” Nicol said. “Quite honestly, Rodrygo, to me, has had some big moments, but I wouldn’t say he’s been the most consistent ever. Diaz has been way more consistent and has had big moments.”
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ESPN FC’s Nedum Onuoha also agreed with Nicol’s remarks, noting that the 24-year-old lacks a trait that would allow him to succeed should he move to Liverpool or any other Premier League club.
“I think for Liverpool, yes,” Onuoha said. “I think Luis Diaz has got a little bit more bite about him as well. Not to say that Rodrygo doesn’t have it, but I think in terms of some of the physicality of the Premier League and for the way that Liverpool needs to play at times, I think Luis Diaz can match that energy.
“Whereas I think Rodrygo might come a little bit short there. Yes, he has the talent, but as we can see in the Premier League, it almost needs to be a complete player to have a big influence for some of these bigger clubs as well.”
If Diaz does leave this summer, it’ll be interesting to see how Liverpool approaches replacing him. Any potential target would likely need to be someone motivated by the chance to compete for the Premier League title and make a deep run in the UEFA Champions League.
