Liverpool will match £67m fee paid to sign Alisson to complete deal to sign exceptional star - Our View

Liverpool signed Alisson Becker for £67m in 2018 and we expect them to match that fee to sign Luis Diaz after several reports claimed he wants the Reds and the Reds want him.

The Brazilian joined Liverpool from AS Roma and Sky Sports reported at the time that a fee worth £67million was agreed between the two clubs and a similar deal could see Diaz play in front of the Kop again.

Porto faced the Merseysiders in the Champions League this season but were beaten 7-1 on aggregate which may have helped convince Diaz that his future belongs at Anfield although a deal to bring him to the club will be more complicated than Alisson's.

The £67m fee paid to sign him in 2018 was one negotiated and agreed upon between the two clubs but it was amortized and paid across multiple years to offset the impact of such a major investment.

With Diaz, Liverpool will have to pay his release clause which is set at €80million (£66.5m) in full in order to sign him and this could be the biggest hurdle.

The Colombian could be the missing puzzle in Jurgen Klopp's attack but he could prove to be too expensive although just based on the number of reports that surfaced on Wednesday, it really feels as though there is substance to this story and I expect Liverpool to reach an agreement with Porto soon.

Given the vast number of players linked with the club on a daily basis, it's easy to become desensitised to transfer stories especially given that FSG rarely invests into the squad on a grand scale.

Yet, the Diaz link seems to hold weight. It makes sense for a number of reasons although the timing is a bit convenient.

Signing the Colombian would increase the pressure on Sadio Mane to perform but it could, in turn, breathe renewed life into the Senegal attacker's Anfield career and push him to perform.

Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have shown this season how important squad depth and competition are.

The Scotsman was underperforming but a few games on the sidelines with the Greek star in the side saw Robbo return to the starting lineup and play with renewed vigour.

Conversely, Jordan Henderson's form the last two months should show what happens when there is no threat to a starter's position in the side.

The skipper cannot be dropped and has not been at risk of being dropped due to injury, suspension and AFCON.

However, Klopp will have a full squad available to him following the international break and Thiago and Naby Keita's return should put pressure on him to improve his performances or he will need to be dropped.

Signing Diaz will give Klopp a similar option at left-wing with Sadio Mane and it could even see his contract extended beyond 2023.