Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez will not be part of Liverpool's matchday squad on Saturday for the friendly against AC Milan. Both players are expected to leave the club.
Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez may have joined Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia, but their exclusion from the squad for the friendly against AC Milan has only fueled speculation that both players are nearing the exit door at Anfield.
While the official reasoning for their absence remains unconfirmed, multiple reports suggest that manager Arne Slot made the decision deliberately, opting not to risk two players who are currently the subject of intense transfer negotiations. It’s a move that suggests Liverpool is already preparing for life without the Colombian and the Uruguayan forwards.
Slot, still in the early stages of establishing his identity at the club, appears to be taking a pragmatic approach to squad management. Rather than building around uncertainty, he’s choosing to give game time to players who are more likely to be part of Liverpool’s plans for the upcoming season. While Díaz and Núñez remain with the squad in Asia, their omission from matchday involvement especially in a high-profile pre-season fixture is viewed as a strong indicator that the club is open to selling both, assuming the right offers are made.
Luis Díaz’s future, in particular, has drawn significant attention from abroad. Bayern Munich are said to be pushing hard to bring the Colombian to the Bundesliga, with the German giants seeing him as a dynamic addition to their wide options. Despite already possessing attacking talent, Bayern are reportedly eager to reshape their frontline under new manager Vincent Kompany. According to Sky Sports, the Bavarians submitted a renewed offer of €67.5 million on Friday a clear signal of their intent. However, Liverpool are believed to be holding out for a higher figure, closer to €75 million, especially given Díaz’s contract runs until 2027 and he is still considered a valuable asset with his peak years ahead.
Díaz, who joined Liverpool in January 2022 from FC Porto, enjoyed a strong debut spell and quickly became a fan favorite with his speed, trickery, and relentless energy. But a knee injury in late 2022 disrupted his momentum, and while he returned to form in the 2023–24 season, Liverpool’s tactical evolution and financial considerations have seemingly put him on the market. A move to Bayern would offer him a new challenge, Champions League football, and the chance to play a key role in a team seeking to reassert its dominance in Germany and Europe.
Darwin Núñez’s situation is somewhat different, though similarly uncertain. Signed in 2022 from Benfica for a fee that could rise to €100 million, Núñez arrived with huge expectations. He was seen as Liverpool’s next great number nine raw, explosive, and capable of becoming one of Europe’s most feared forwards. But despite flashes of brilliance and a respectable goal tally, he has struggled to convince consistently. His finishing has been erratic, and questions about his decision-making and composure in key moments have persisted. Under Jürgen Klopp, he was often rotated or used from the bench in big matches, and it remains unclear whether Arne Slot sees him as a long-term solution up front.
Several clubs have shown interest in Núñez this summer. Most notably, Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia are reportedly preparing an offer, hoping to tempt both Liverpool and the player with a lucrative deal. Napoli had also shown interest earlier in the window, particularly as they prepare for the potential departure of Victor Osimhen. But talks have not advanced significantly with the Italians. What complicates Núñez’s position further is Liverpool’s recent activity in the transfer market. The arrival of Hugo Ekitiké adds another name to the attacking rotation, and reports continue to link the club with a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak a versatile, technically refined forward who could offer something different in Slot’s system.
In this context, Núñez’s absence from the Milan match makes sense. The club does not want to risk injury to a player who could command a significant fee, and from a sporting perspective, the coaching staff may already be exploring alternatives.
Meanwhile, other members of the squad are taking center stage. Dutch duo Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch were named in the starting eleven for the Milan game, underlining their importance to Slot’s plans. Interestingly, Gravenberch usually a midfielder appears to be deployed as a central defender, a tactical experiment that may reflect Slot’s desire for ball-playing options in the backline. Cody Gakpo and new signing Jeremie Frimpong begin on the bench but are expected to feature during the match. Frimpong, recently signed from Bayer Leverkusen, adds pace and width down the right, while Gakpo continues to push for a more permanent role after a mixed first full season at Anfield.
The friendly against AC Milan, kicking off at 1:30 p.m. local time in Hong Kong, is part of a critical phase for Liverpool as they prepare for the 2024–25 campaign. With a new manager, shifting tactics, and the possibility of major outgoing transfers, the club is clearly undergoing a period of transition. The absence of two major attacking players only adds to the intrigue, as fans and pundits alike wait to see how Liverpool’s squad will look by the time the Premier League kicks off in August.
If Díaz and Núñez do leave, Liverpool could be in for a busy end to the transfer window not only in terms of securing replacements but also in redefining their attacking identity under Slot. Their departures would free up funds, create space for new arrivals, and mark the end of two relatively short but eventful chapters in the club’s recent history.ominate headlines, with Liverpool supporters bracing for a potentially transformative summer window.
