Why Bayern Munich is Eyeing Liverpool’s Luis Diaz

While discussions surrounding Luis Diaz’s potential transfer to Barcelona have largely quietened following the La Liga club’s interest in Nico Williams, it seems the Colombian winger might still be contemplating an exit from Anfield this summer.

Recent reports indicate that Bayern Munich are assessing the feasibility of signing the 28-year-old to reinforce their Bundesliga squad. With Liverpool seemingly in the market for a new winger as well, these developments lend credibility to the speculation.

This decision from the Reds is particularly intriguing, given that Diaz was behind only Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo in offensive contributions during the 2024/25 season.

He matched Gakpo’s tally with five assists and finished just one goal behind him by netting 14 times. Renowned for his capability to exploit counter-attacking opportunities, Diaz’s 11 fast breaks were surpassed only by Salah, whose statistics are incredibly impressive.

What prompts Liverpool to consider selling Diaz?

Diaz boasts a shooting accuracy of 59.6%, the highest among Liverpool’s first-team players, narrowly trailing Salah, who has an 18.9% shot conversion rate.

His passing accuracy stands at 86%, which, while respectable, doesn’t quite make him the standout in the squad, particularly when considering that he has completed 903 passes—a number that places him lower than many of his teammates. This raises legitimate questions as to why Liverpool might be contemplating his sale.

At Bayern, manager Vincent Kompany already has top talents like Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry in left-wing positions. Bryan Zaragoza is also listed with the Bavarians but is likely to depart before the start of the 2025/26 season.

Comparing their 2024/25 performances, Coman and Gnabry played significantly fewer minutes than Diaz. Coman scored six goals and provided four assists in 30 matches (15 starts), while he was substituted off 14 times. Gnabry’s numbers were slightly better, with seven goals and six assists, in the same number of appearances, indicating a shared playing time indiscretion.

How Coman and Gnabry stack up

In terms of hitting the woodwork, Gnabry was the unluckiest player in Bayern’s squad with five instances, although he edged Coman’s count of three fast breaks, but both still fall short of Diaz’s total.

Shooting accuracy is closely matched too—with Gnabry at 45% and Coman at 52.8%, but their conversion rates differ slightly, with Gnabry at 13.2% and Coman at 11.8%.

Pass completion rates are healthy, with Coman at 88.5% and Gnabry at 85.8%. The more significant difference lies in the defensive contributions of the Bayern duo.

Gnabry’s tackle success rate of 56.5% ranks as the second-worst in the Bayern ranks, while Coman’s 72.2% is among the top three.

Gnabry’s ability in the air is evidenced by four successful aerial duels from 18 attempts, while Coman has a better success rate, winning almost half of his challenges (15 out of 31).

Defensive work isn’t Diaz’s strong suit either, as indicated by his 67.4% tackle success rate and 15 aerial duels won from 56 attempts; however, he clearly brings a more explosive quality to the attack.

Can Coman or Gnabry finance a Diaz transfer?

At 28, Diaz is slightly younger than his potential Bayern counterparts, which may factor into considerations.

What remains uncertain now is the transfer fee Liverpool might seek for the player, along with whether Kompany will part with either Coman or Gnabry to facilitate any deal.

Since Diaz seemed to entertain the idea of moving to Barcelona at one point, it’s reasonable to assume he is cognisant that his tenure at Liverpool may soon be coming to a close.

This is the reality for professional footballers, and if a transfer occurs, Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot will no doubt provide insightful commentary on the reasons behind Diaz’s departure.

From Bayern’s perspective, acquiring elite players for every position is crucial to maintain their dominance in Germany and improve their chances in the Champions League.

Having only clinched the title three times this century (in 2001 against Valencia, 2013 versus Borussia Dortmund, and 2020 against Paris Saint-Germain), their track record in European football’s flagship competition isn’t sufficient for a club of Bayern’s renown.

Bayern’s tantalising front three if Diaz joins

Indeed, to reclaim their status at the pinnacle of European football, they may need more than just Luis Diaz, but few sides would want to face a forward line featuring Diaz, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise.

Such a trio would certainly be a formidable proposition for any opponent.