By GETHIN HICKS
Published: | Updated:
Luis Diaz has arrived in Germany to undergo a medical ahead of his move to Bayern Munich.
The Colombian international, 28, is set to join Vincent Kompany‘s Bundesliga champions after Liverpool accepted their latest offer worth £65.5million including add-ons.
Diaz left Liverpool’s pre-season training camp in Japan on Monday, and has this morning been pictured with his suitcase in Bavaria, with the winger expected to undergo a medical shortly.
He said goodbye to his teammates yesterday morning, three and a half years after he made the move to the Premier League from Porto. Diaz made 148 appearances during his time at Anfield, scoring 41 goals.
He is thought to have first told Liverpool bosses of his desire to leave last summer, but the club held firm.
They later made two separate attempts to agree a contract extension with the left-winger, but failed to convince Diaz due to a gap between offers and demands.
Luis Diaz has arrived in Germany to complete a medical ahead of his move to Bayern Munich
The Colombian winger was pictured dragging his suitcase beside him after landing in Bavaria
Diaz (centre) was pictured with his soon-to-be former team-mates on Monday morning
Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich have expressed an interest in the Colombian this summer, but after signing Marcus Rashford the Catalan giants left the race for his signature.
Bayern initially advanced with an offer worth around £58.5m which was rebuffed, before Liverpool accepted the German champions’ second offer of £65.5m including add-ons.
On Saturday, manager Arne Slot confirmed that Diaz was left out of the squad to face AC Milan due to speculation surrounding his future, while Darwin Nunez missed out due to injury.
‘One of the positions that we didn’t have was a No 9,’ Slot told LFC TV after the 4-2 defeat.
‘We had one, Hugo [Ekitike], but he wasn’t ready to play yet. Darwin was injured. Lucho [Luis Diaz] couldn’t play as well. In Lucho’s situation it was, yeah [the reason why he was left out].
‘There’s a lot of rumours around him lately and I cannot go into that. He’s training well with us but we have decided, for now, not to play him yet.
‘I’m used to talking to most of my players on a regular basis. Like I said, Lucho is training really well and we’ve decided that he’s not playing at the moment in the games. I cannot comment much more about that.’
Diaz’s exit could see Liverpool step up their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
Arne Slot admitted Diaz missed Liverpool’s game against AC Milan due to speculation about his future
Diaz will join a Bayern side already boasting Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry
The Swede has not been present on The Magpies’ pre-season tour of Asia after reporting a groin injury amid rumours of him leaving the club.
Liverpool are believed to be interested in a move for Isak and could send a formal offer to Eddie Howe’s club soon.
After spending a mere £12.5m last summer, club bosses have back Arne Slot with £270m already this window, bringing in Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.
They begin their season on August 10, facing Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley.
