Diaz is a good player and I hope he stays. It looks to me as though he wants a pay bump, and he might value himself more highly than we value him. If I’m reading that wrong, and he is happy to stay on his current deal, great! I would gladly take that.
The following is based on the premise that he wants out. How would we replace him?
I would think about the aggregate, not the individual player.
Diaz got 13 goals and 5 assists in 36 Prem appearances. He had a good season and I hope he stays. But let’s imagine a world where there is a lot of change in our attack.
In the scenario I’m describing Diaz is sold - we didn’t especially want to do that, but he wanted a bigger pay deal than we were giving him, so we reluctantly parted company. In addition, as I’m talking about the aggregate, Nunez is sold. We are expecting that one. He got 5 goals and 2 assists. Chiesa is also sold. Most expect that, but with the other changes there’s a chance he might make a case for himself in preseason. Either way, he barely featured last season so improving on what he did should not be difficult. Jota is tragically gone. He got 6 goals and 3 assists.
That’s four out. Diaz. Nunez. Chiesa. Jota.
Four to replace them could be Wirtz, Ekitike, Fofana and Ngumoha who would be promoted from within. They are not exact like for like players, and that’s because Slot is shaping it to his requirement, so we shouldn’t necessarily expect to see the same set up as last season.
I would be confident that even in the first season, when things are new and the replacements are young, the incoming players would better the contribution of the outgoing players, and the attack would be more than fine.
In subsequent seasons I would expect them to do better again, as they are young and have years of improvement ahead of them.
Again, I would be more than fine if Diaz stays as he is a good player. But if he does leave, I would think about the aggregate, rather than replacing one individual player. I think it is likely Slot will play a different system this coming season as we evolve.
I see four at the back, but the two fullbacks getting high up the pitch and offering width.
I see the same three midfielders as playing most weeks - MacAllister, Grav and Szobo with Grav able to drop back and cover if the fullbacks are high up and we lose possession.
I see two in front of them in the half space, Wirtz left of center, Salah right of center.
And I see a new striker in front of that, Ekitike.