Soccer
keano back?
Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders were on hand to welcome Díaz to the club's training base on Friday.
Liverpool have welcomed their newest signing Luis Díaz to their training ground for the first time, with Fabio Carvalho now almost certain to follow him to Anfield this summer.
Jurgen Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders were on hand to welcome Díaz to the club's training base on Friday, after Liverpool beat Tottenham to the signing of the Colombian international in the final days of last month's transfer window.
Liverpool goal scoring great John Aldridge gave sundayworld.com his verdict on Díaz's arrival, as he suggested it was a sign that the club are building for the future.
"It's an exciting signing," Aldridge told sundayworld.com. "Every time I've seen him playing for Porto, he has been exceptional and Klopp clearly rates him highly.
"I have been in Portugal over the last few days and the word down here is that Díaz is the best player in the Portuguese league by a distance and Liverpool seem to have got him for a good price.
"This is the way Liverpool's owners go about their business. They identify players and seem to get them for a good price. He is also a good age and that's important because the squad was getting old together not long ago, but they have addressed that with some of their recent signings."
Klopp gave his verdict on Díaz's arrival, as he revealed the 25-year-old had been a target for some time.
"We signed him because we like pretty much everything about him, that is how it is," Klopp told his press conference on Friday.
"I have followed him now for a while, not only since we played them [Porto] twice in the Champions League. He is an exceptional player; he has the speed, the skillset, the character to have a really good career. We all want him to have this career with us.
A warm welcome from the boss and Pep Lijnders for @LuisFDiaz19 🤗 pic.twitter.com/mIUZUVTKsL
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2022
"Nowadays you have 16, 17-year-old boys playing at the highest level, maybe he is a bit of a late bloomer, but the bloom is exceptional.
"I am really happy that we could get him in now and we can help him, and he can help us. His story is a special one, I like players with special stories behind them. Now he is one of us and we can't wait to welcome him here and started working together."
Klopp also confirmed Liverpool are still actively trying to sign Fulham teenager Fabio Carvalho, after a deal to bring the player to Anfield collapsed on transfer deadline day.
It is unusual for Klopp to speak about a potential signing before a deal has been confirmed, but all parties are convinced this is a transfer that will be agreed.
Sources close to the deal have now confirmed that a deal is in place to take Carvalho to Liverpool this summer, with the fine details of the deal now under discussion.
Anfield negotiators have been assured by Fulham that they are not looking to open talks with rival clubs over Carvalho at this stage, with the player making it clear he only wants to join Liverpool.
Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.