Luis Diaz should be earning as much as €15m a year – after tax – at Liverpool after Mohamed Salah’s renewal, with the Colombian deserving of such a figure.
That’s according to journalist Juan Felipe Cadavid, who has been arguing his case with fellow journalist Cesar Augusto Londoño.
Diaz’s current deal at Liverpool expires in 2027, meaning this summer may be the time in which the Reds either decide to sell or renew.
They will be keen to avoid him entering the final year of his deal next summer, which could force them into a low-cost sale, and also entering into another situation like the one they’ve found themselves in this season with Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.
Diaz remains a key player for Liverpool under Arne Slot, with 11 goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season and 15 goals and eight assists in 45 games in all competitions to date.
There are questions over how well he fits into Liverpool’s style under Arne Slot, though, and the Colombian has regularly been linked with a move to the likes of Barcelona for the last 18 months.
The situation has led to a debate about what he is worth of, and Cadavid believes he needs to be demanding at least €15m.
“At least, at least double. Lucho should be close to Salah,” he said when asked what he thinks he should earn at Liverpool.
“The most important attacking duo in Europe’s top leagues is Díaz-Salah. I’m not saying they earn the same. He must be closer than farther from Salah. He’s in the mix these days.
“Lucho should be at €15m, and if there’s an offer from Saudi Arabia, then Liverpool has to make a little effort.”
This was countered by Londoño, who argues that Liverpool are not going to give the winger five times his current €3.5m salary despite paying Mohamed Salah times his current €3.5m salary despite paying Mohamed Salah €20m with his recent renewal.
“They’re not going to give him five times more,” he said.
“The renewal implies that the player, who has a contract until 2027, should sign until 2029. They would supposedly have to keep the salary of €3.5m until 2027, and from 2027 onwards, the €5m they’re offering him, but what they’re offering him is that those €5m will be from now.
“That is, they change his current contract for two more years and raise it to €5m.”
