Latest news with #TheDailyRedPodcast
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dave Hendrick on Diaz 'obviously the right time to sell'
Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich: A Liverpool Departure That Makes Sense Luis Diaz's time at Liverpool has come to an end, with the Colombian winger set to join Bayern Munich in a deal worth £65 million including add-ons. As said by Dave Hendrick on The Daily Red Podcast, both clubs have agreed the fee, and Diaz has accepted personal terms with the German champions. While the breakdown of the fee is still unknown, Hendrick called it 'really good business for us,' especially considering Diaz is nearing 29 with two years remaining on his contract. Arrival and Early Impact at Liverpool Diaz joined Liverpool in January 2022 from Porto, costing the club an initial £37.5 million with a further £12.5 million in potential add-ons. While the exact figures paid are unclear, Hendrick estimated, 'We paid all in around £48–49 million for Luis Diaz.' His immediate impact was undeniable. Diaz provided a 'real shot in the arm' to a squad chasing the quadruple, helping secure both domestic cups and propelling Liverpool's push for league and European glory. In that initial half-season, Diaz gave Liverpool fans reason to believe they had found a fitting heir to Sadio Mané. 'He gave Sadio a strong last six months,' said Hendrick, noting that Diaz's performances on the left allowed Mané to shift centrally and regain form during the run-in. Frustrations and Setbacks Despite flashes of brilliance, Diaz's Liverpool career was marred by inconsistency and misfortune. A serious knee injury in the 2022/23 season sidelined him for months. 'He missed months and months… he ends up missing half the season,' Hendrick said, reflecting on the failed non-surgical recovery attempt and a reinjury that derailed his campaign. Then came personal trauma in the 2023/24 season, as Diaz's father was kidnapped in Colombia. 'Quite a traumatic experience,' Hendrick acknowledged, adding that Diaz 'never fully found any kind of consistency that year.' Still, when Arne Slot arrived, he backed the winger. Diaz started the 2024/25 season brightly, even transitioning into a central role due to injuries and form issues elsewhere. Although his productivity dipped midseason, he remained committed. 'He was still working really hard for the team… still doing a lot of the things we needed him to do.' His hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen was a highlight, and as the season progressed, 'he catches fire again and he finishes the season really well.' He ended the campaign with a personal-best 17 goals, contributing significantly to Liverpool's Premier League title triumph. Why Bayern Makes Sense for Diaz For Diaz, the move to Bayern Munich offers a new challenge and, as Hendrick sees it, an ideal fit. 'I think Diaz will smash it at Bayern,' he said confidently. The Bundesliga's less demanding defences and the players surrounding Diaz were key factors. 'He never played with a great number nine' at Liverpool, but now he'll have Harry Kane. 'Harry Kane makes his wingers better,' Hendrick added. He'll also line up alongside Michael Olise and, eventually, Jamal Musiala. And once Alphonso Davies returns from injury, Diaz will have one of the fastest full-backs in the world overlapping. 'That's a great, great situation for Diaz to be going into,' Hendrick said. He also noted that Joshua Kimmich and Tom Bischof provide excellent service and creativity in midfield. No Regrets and a Smart Sale For Liverpool, the sale is strategic and timely. 'It's obviously the right time to sell and it's a good fee,' said Hendrick. With a net spend of just £136 million this window, Liverpool are operating smartly, especially in contrast to their rivals. 'We couldn't be in a better position,' he added, pointing to the club's financial flexibility. Diaz departs with 41 goals in 148 appearances and leaves as a Premier League champion. He arrived to fill an impossible gap and did so with moments of genuine magic. 'Lucho did what we needed him to do,' Hendrick summarised, and for that, he should leave Anfield with everyone's best wishes.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool risk losing key centre-back over contract stand-off
Konaté Contract Stalemate Raises Big Questions for Liverpool Ibrahima Konaté's Liverpool Future in Doubt Liverpool fans woke up to troubling headlines, as The Guardian reported that Ibrahima Konaté is 'disappointed with Liverpool contract offers as talks stall.' On the latest episode of The Daily Red Podcast by Anfield Index, Guy Drinkel delivered a detailed and impassioned analysis of the situation. Konaté, affectionately referred to as 'Ibu' by fans, is entering the final year of his current deal, and negotiations to extend his stay appear far from resolved. Drinkel didn't hold back. 'We just have to get it done,' he insisted. 'People have fitness concerns, but you do have to roll the dice with players who are world class.' He acknowledged those concerns but pointed to the French defender's undeniable quality when fit. 'We saw the first half of last season, he was just as good as Van Dijk when fully fit and in the groove.' Pay Konaté What He's Worth Money is at the heart of the matter. Rumours suggest Konaté wants £200,000 per week, roughly what Virgil van Dijk was on before his latest renewal. 'If we've got 26-year-old Ibu and we contract him for another five years and he goes on to 31… 200 grand a week is nothing,' said Drinkel. 'Especially with the growing wages, the Saudi influence, the Real Madrid power plays.' Photo: IMAGO Advertisement He questioned the club's hesitation, particularly given the precedent of paying Thiago Alcântara a high wage package upon arrival. 'If he's anywhere like 250 [thousand] and below… just get it done,' Drinkel urged. 'I know we're not businessmen, but as a fan, like I don't care if we're saving an extra 20 grand a week. Just get Ibu paid.' Replacement Talk Sparks Anxiety While links to Crystal Palace's Marc Guéhi offer an exciting alternative, they also signal potential unease about Konaté's future. 'Is Guéhi more the Quansah replacement or is he seen as the Ibu replacement?' Drinkel asked. 'It's a scary thought.' Photo: IMAGO Advertisement He did express admiration for Guéhi, calling him 'the best English centre-back' and noting his prime age at 24. But the idea of having to replace Konaté due to avoidable contractual failings clearly rankled. 'It would be so disappointing… if Ibu is literally wanting to stay or is willing to stay… and we're just not paying him enough, that's more of an annoying thing than Trent,' he said, referencing the long-running saga surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold's Real Madrid ambitions. Konaté Belongs at the Heart of Liverpool's Defence The depth of Drinkel's belief in Konaté was impossible to ignore. 'For me personally, I think Ibu is one of the top five centre-backs in the world off the top of my head,' he said. 'In the Premier League, I wouldn't trade him for anyone. Not a single soul.' Photo: IMAGO He even went further, painting a vision of Liverpool's future defence with Konaté at its core: 'If we sign Guéhi … and keep Ibu… we can keep [those] three centre-backs for the rest of Van Dijk's contract.' For Drinkel, that scenario represents ideal succession planning and squad building. Letting Konaté slip through the cracks, in contrast, would be 'really, really annoying.'
