Luis Diaz pushing for Barcelona move as Liverpool line up Lyon wonderkid Malick Fofana as potential summer replacement

Liverpool could potentially lose star winger Diaz this summer with Barcelona keen on signing the Colombian. In the event Diaz departs, the Reds have set their sights on Lyon sensation Fofana, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo.

The Catalans want to add depth to their offensive ranks and are believed to be focused on acquiring a world-class left winger. Many names such as Nico Williams, Rafael Leao and Marcus Rashford have been suggested, but sporting director Deco is said to admire Diaz the most, pushing the club for his transfer. It must be noted, though, that there are no guarantees about Barcelona succeeding in their ambition to land the Liverpool winger's signature, given their financial troubles.

Meanwhile, Diaz is yet to sign a renewal with the Reds, who have reportedly tabled an extension offer to the forward. His contract with the Premier League champions expires in 2027. As a result, they have turned their attention towards Fofana, who has impressed in Ligue 1 as well as during Lyon's quarter-final run in the Europa League this season.

Speaking in an interview with AfricaFootearlier this month, Fofana's agent Bobo Fofana named Liverpool as the young Belgian's preferred destination after leaving Lyon. He said: "The choice of heart would be Liverpool. He has the potential to enter the rotation, and above all, we would like to see him succeed African legends such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and El Hadji Diouf. Now, the choice of reason would be Newcastle, a well-structured club that could be a first step to gain experience before, perhaps, joining a club in the European top five."

Liverpool are set to demand over €80 million (£68m/$89m) for Diaz's services, which could prove to be an obstacle for the Blaugrana. However, should they be able to offload some players and generate funds, they will likely succeed in their pursuit of their No.1 summer target.

Having already achieved Premier League glory, Arne Slot's men will be aiming to finish the season on a high when they take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in their final home game of the season on Sunday, May 25. After that, the Dutchman's attention will turn to the summer transfer window, with Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong likely to replace the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is destined for a move to Real Madrid.