There is no more fascinating subplot that will run this summer though than Luis Diaz's specific situation though.

Speaking at the back end of last season, Diaz was enthusiastic about his time at Anfield and suggested the plan was to sit down with his representatives and the club to thrash out new terms.

“Yes, [I'm] happy,” Diaz said in May.

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"We are currently in contact with Liverpool, because we are talking to clubs, and that’s normal given the transfer market that’s opening," Diaz said recently.

I’m very happy at Liverpool, I’ve always said so.

The Reds stressed earlier this month that they have no intention of listening to offers for the versatile frontman this summer and while it has been detailed from those with knowledge of the situation that a move to Barcelona would represent something of a 'dream', the idea that a cash-strapped La Liga outfit can pay the sort of fee that would make the champions change stance is widely viewed with suspicion

But while that might make any negotiations more straightforward further down the line, Liverpool won't entertain offers that are inevitably way below what they value a player they don't even want to sell at.

The £100m offer put forward from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for Bruno Fernandes, prior his recent public declaration that he will be staying at Manchester United, is viewed as a more realistic ballpark than offloading Diaz to Barcelona, given his exploits last term when he scored 13 times to help the Reds to the title

At 28 and with two years left on his contract, Liverpool are relaxed about the situation they find themselves in with Diaz and while there will be some sympathy externally for a player whose talents may not be totally in line with his weekly wage, the hard-nosed, business-like approach from sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG's CEO of football Michael Edwards mean the winger might simply have to accept his fate for now.


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