The money upfront; not on an IOU dripped over 10 years from a club that looks insolvent
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Hes 28, ideally we go younger.
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As a back-up to Gakpo?
I was just going to come back to edit my post to say, id like him about still for that reason. Hes a very good player
I’d skip Mitoma.
It was pretty surprising what Brighton rejected for him from Saudi not long ago.
Don’t want to see Diaz gone,but if he wants out,so be it.85 m would ease the pain a bit,but it would have to be upfront!
Classic case of “he’s too good to hate even when he leaves” syndrome
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Tricky because we have to make a decision, all sides.
If he stays, obviously we have to agree a new contract, that means we’ll have him probably at least until he’s 32. And you have to decide whether you actually trust that it’s Gakpo with the upwards trajectory to become our main LW.
On the other hand, I completely understand if he’d like a new challenge and if Barca want him.
From Barca’s point of view it’s interesting because this season they found a great way to balance that attack. Raphinha off the left, but playing also very much on the inside. Protecting Lewandowski in the defensive/pressing phase, Lewa dropping to the #10 spot, picking up a midfielder.
We’ll see if they are changing Raphinha’s position (Olmo is getting linked with a move?), but Diaz also showed this season that he can be a candidate for two roles. Torres usually covered for Lewandowski this season.
Diaz’s stock among our fans is now higher again after a quality end of the season. Him and Gakpo interchanged well on the left and also complimented each other. The Salah, Gakpo and Diaz combination up front turned out to be a winning formula in attack this season and they are our most productive players in terms of numbers.
I’m thankful to Slot for the idea and Diaz for accepting the new role he often had this season, it seemed to me like he liked it. Now it’s the matter of all parties sitting together, sharing their feelings and motivations and making a decision.
IF Diaz is leaving, then the chase for Wirtz would actually make sense, as Wirtz could battle for two positions; #10 with Szobo and with Gakpo on the left, but playing it a bit more inside channel (which is good counter for Salah’s role on the right).
Again I will make the point here this is Barca journos.
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This kind of transfer is why I think there will be more upheaval than others. With Nunez a definite to leave, there’s question marks over whether we’ll keep Jota (who has two years left on his contract) or cash in now, and then Diaz (although saying great stuff about staying with us, there’s always been the murmurs of Barcelona wanting him, and him wanting them). Still a lot of question marks, but could pave the way for us to move for Cherki.
I don’t think that this has legs, but IF they were willing to dish out so much money for him, I’d take it as well. He’s a good player, but as you say, not irreplaceable at all, and for him, it might be tempting to go to one of Spain’s big two. Also, with Edwards in charge of discussions, he’d be able to really make them pay big time.
We’ll see, I still think that these rumours are nonsense.
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Doubt it’ll happen this season. Not in favor as well when we still have Nunez and Jota who we should be looking to replace first.
Add the Barca tax of another 15m. Make it a round 100m for the deal
I think it is. Cody is 2 years younger and was looking brilliant before his injury. Their stats are similar but Gakpo seems to have a better shot on him
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Funnily enough my main concern isn’t really about the LW but more about the 9.
If Diaz had just interchanged with Gakpo all season and only ever played out wide I’d be in camp ‘sell him if the money is huge’. But Nunez is sure to go, Jota has massively underperformed as the 9 and can’t be seen as an starting option, and all the lads we’re linked with in that position are somewhat of a risk.
Is you bring in Sesko or Etikeke for example, you know worst case scenario, if it takes them time to adapt, you have Diaz there ready step in and do big chunks of the season, and you know what you’re getting from him.
Sell him, and if the new guy struggles, we’re really in dangerous waters.
Which is why I think he can’t go this summer.
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My first thought, was absolutely not. I could see him developing into world class player. Going from good to great.
Didnt realize he is 28, I assumed he was more like 24. He is unlikely to be as good as I hoped he could be.
For the right price, need to consider it.
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Finding myself agreeing with many of these opinions (even where they are somewhat inconsistent). It’s a tough call but, on balance, a huge fee that allows us to pick up an already identified high quality replacement and allows them to come this summer probably swings it.
I see your offer and I raise you:
While I get the logic people are presenting, this strikes me as one of those moves that is ripe for hubris and believing our own cleverness to kick us in the dick.
He is a top performing player who has shown reasonable versatility in a front line that is already likely to see some turnover this summer. Even the best transfer team make some mistakes, and even good singings can take time to settle. If we had no questions about Darwin, Jota and Chiesa, then this sort of money for a guy who has likely already peaked seems the sort of smart, ruthless business that dynasties are built on. Doing it in a summer when we’re likely to already be bringing in 2 new forwards, or sticking with one or two who have struggled for form and consistency, just seems like an accident waiting to happen.
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In all fairness to you he’d just turned 25 when he joined us, but yet he’s also been with us for 3.5 seasons. Time flies.
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