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Rodrygo, who has been linked with Liverpool, pictured ahead of Real Madrid's clash against Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool's huge of statement of intent in the transfer market continued last night (July 23).

The Premier League champions completed the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike for a fee that could rise to £79m.

That would make the 23-year-old the third most expensive signing in the Reds' history behind the £85m Darwin Nunez and fellow new boy Florian Wirtz, whose move from Bayer Leverkusen last month could eventually cost a British transfer record £116m.

Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are the headline purchases in a summer that has also seen Liverpool bring in the former's old Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m, Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez for £40m, as well as a trio of goalkeepers in the £29m Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, the £1.5m Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akademia, and Freddie Woodman on a free transfer from Preston North End.

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That all combines for an outlay of nearly £300m.

But, as things stand, their Premier League rivals have no interest in selling the striker, who they rate in the £150m bracket.

Liverpool have taken the same stance over the future of Luis Diaz, who has been the subject of interest from Barcelona and a failed bid from Bayern Munich.

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However, the Bundesliga champions are expected to make a new offer for the 28-year-old, who has less than two years remaining on his Anfield contract.

Should the Reds' position change and Diaz was to depart the club, it would leave head coach Arne Slot needing another winger who could play off the left.

One such player who has been linked as a possible replacement for the Colombian, who is training with the rest of Slot's squad in Hong Kong this week, is the Real Madrid and Brazil superstar Rodrygo.

No talks have been held with Madrid over the 24-year-old and one Reds legend has no problem with that.

“I would rather have Luis Diaz,” said Steve Nicol, who won 10 trophies during his Liverpool career.

“If I’m picking a team tomorrow, I’m picking Luis Diaz over Rodrygo.

Quite honestly, Rodrygo to me has had some big moments, but I wouldn’t say he’s been the most consistent.

“I think Luis Diaz has been way more consistent and has big moments.”

Nicol was speaking on ESPN FC and he was joined by former Manchester City favourite Nedum Onuoha, who shares a similar opinion.

“I think for Liverpool, yes (Diaz is a better fit),” said Onuoha.

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“I think Luis Diaz has a got a little bit more bite about him as well, not saying Rodrygo doesn’t have it, but I think in terms of some of the physicality of the Premier League and the way Liverpool need to play at times, I think Luis Diaz can match that sort of energy, whereas I think Rodrygo might come a little bit short there.

“Yes, he has the talent, but as we can see in the Premier League you almost need to be a complete player to have a big influence for some of these bigger clubs.”

The Reds are next in action when they take on AC Milan at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong (12.30pm kick-off).


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