Liverpool star hints at PSG snub as Barcelona turn focus to Chelsea’s top target

Liverpool star Luis Diaz has given his strongest hint yet that he will stay at Anfield beyond the summer.

The Colombia international has been in fine form for Liverpool of late and his performances have caught the eye of both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, with the French giants apparently seeing him as the ideal replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who left Real Madrid.

“Very happy to be here”

But Diaz told the Liverpool media after receiving the club’s player of the month award for April that he was “very happy to be here”, insisting that “there are big years ahead for the club”.

“I’ve grown a lot,” Diaz said. “From the beginning of my career until today, I feel that as the days, the years go by, living every experience in every different team, coming to this great club that is Liverpool, you learn a lot.

“You learn more and more to be a professional, to be a better person, to be a good teammate and a good guy. The truth is, I’m very happy to be here. Great years ahead for the club, no doubt about it.

“Personally, I will always try to do my best, always try to give 100 percent, always stand out on the pitch, which is what I came (here) to do. I am always grateful to God for every opportunity.”

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Barcelona is moving on

Barcelona have also been heavily linked with Diaz, and have now moved on to an alternative target, fittingly Sports.

The Spanish publication claim that Barcelona have decided it is “100 per cent unaffordable” to complete a deal to sign the 27-year-old and have instead decided to focus their attention on signing Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams.

The 21-year-old signed a new deal with Bilbao in December that keeps him tied to the La Liga club until 2027, but there is reportedly a £43m release clause in that contract.

Liverpool have previously shown an interest in Williams and a report last month claimed Chelsea were looking to “steal a march on their rivals” and are “trying to seal a deal for the 21-year-old pre-holiday as they eye attacking reinforcements this summer”.