Why Bayern Munich is Eyeing Liverpool’s Luis Diaz

While the speculation surrounding Luis Diaz’s possible move to Barcelona has lessened due to their interest in Nico Williams, it seems the Colombian forward could still be leaving Anfield this summer.

Recent reports from credible sources indicate that Bayern Munich are now considering the acquisition of the 28-year-old winger for the Bundesliga. With Liverpool reportedly pursuing another winger, this rumour gains more credibility.

This is a notable stance from the Reds, given that Diaz ranked third in terms of contributions during the 2024/25 season, trailing only Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo.

He matched Gakpo’s assist tally with five, and with 14 goals scored, he was just one short of the Dutchman.

Renowned for his counter-attacking prowess, it’s no surprise that his 11 fast breaks were surpassed only by Salah, whose statistics are truly remarkable.

Why is Liverpool considering a Diaz exit?

With a shooting accuracy of 59.6%, Diaz boasts the highest percentage among all Liverpool starters, with only Salah outdoing him in shot conversion rate at 18.9%.

His passing accuracy stands at 86%, which is neither exceptional nor poor within the squad. However, his total of 903 passes does not favourably compare to his teammates, raising legitimate questions about why Liverpool might contemplate selling Diaz.

Vincent Kompany already has Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry as options for the left wing, with Bryan Zaragoza also registered at Bayern, although he is almost certain to depart before the start of the 2025/26 season.

Both Coman and Gnabry featured in fewer matches than Diaz during the 2024/25 campaign, each displaying strikingly similar statistics.

Coman recorded six goals and four assists across 30 appearances (15 as a starter), with 14 substitutions, while Gnabry mirrored this in terms of game time but was slightly more productive with seven goals and six assists.

Coman and Gnabry’s statistics are remarkably alike

Gnabry faced some misfortune, hitting the woodwork five times, while his five fast breaks just edged out Coman’s three, though both remain significantly behind Diaz in this aspect.

In terms of shooting accuracy, they are closely matched—Gnabry at 45% and Coman at 52.8%—with shot conversion rates of 13.2% and 11.8%, respectively.

Pass completion rates are decent with Coman at 88.5% and Gnabry at 85.8%, but their defensive contributions reveal contrasting results. Gnabry’s tackle success rate of 56.5% is the second lowest in the Bayern squad, while Coman’s 72.2% ranks third highest.

Gnabry’s four successful aerial duels out of 18 attempts indicate that his heading ability could use improvement, while Coman succeeded in nearly half of his duels (15 out of 31).

Defending isn’t exactly Diaz’s strong suit either, as shown by his 67.4% tackle success and just 15 aerial duels won from 56 attempts. However, he is undeniably a more dynamic attacking player.

Could Coman or Gnabry finance a Diaz transfer?

At 28 years old, Diaz is the youngest of the three, which might also play a role in the discussion.

It remains unclear what transfer fee Liverpool would seek for Diaz, and whether Kompany might consider selling either Coman or Gnabry to finance any prospective deal.

Given that Diaz seemed to acknowledge the possibility of a transfer to Barcelona at one point, it suggests he may be aware that his time at Liverpool is nearing its conclusion.

Such is the nature of professional football, and should he move to a new club, Reds manager Arne Slot will no doubt be forthright regarding the reasons behind the Colombian’s departure.

From Bayern’s perspective, acquiring top-tier talent in every position is essential to maintain their edge in Germany and, more importantly, enhance their chances of winning the Champions League.

They have only won Europe’s elite club competition three times this century (in 2001 against Valencia, 2013 against Borussia Dortmund, and 2020 against Paris Saint-Germain), which falls short of expectations for a club of Bayern’s prominence.

A tantalising front trio for Bayern if Diaz arrives

To truly reclaim their status at the pinnacle, Bayern may need more than just Luis Diaz, but few teams could match the firepower of a front three comprising Diaz, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise.

That’s an enticing prospect, without a doubt.