Porto are making a mistake selling Luis Diaz to Premier League giants Liverpool for as little as £37 million, former Portugal international Eurico Gomes tells Radio Renascenca.
It certainly does feel a little bit on the ‘cheap’ side.
Porto are usually masters of getting top dollar for their key players. £29 million for Eliaquim Mangala anyone?
But, as of Friday morning, arguably the most exciting player in the country – let alone Porto – appears to be on his way to Anfield for less money than Aston Villa paid for Emi Buendia.
According to Sky Sports, Liverpool will pay £37 million up front for Diaz.
The Colombian international finished as the joint top scorer at last summer’s Copa America and has maintained that relentless form at club level, firing Porto to the top of the Primeira Liga with 14 goals in just 18 games.
Is £37m a bargain for Liverpool newbie Luis Diaz?
“I don’t agree that it’s a good deal,” sighs Gomes, one of only nine men to represent the so-called ‘Big Three’ of Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.
“Porto does not have an abundance of finances. But Luis Diaz, for 45 million euros, is a bargain for those who buy him. And I don’t know if it will be enough to safeguard the club’s accounts.
“This will always be a bad deal.”
Porto’s financial situation has almost certainly played a part in Diaz’s impending departure.
As pointed out by Sky Sports in December, The Dragons face a ban from UEFA competition due to ‘unpaid debts’.
Tottenham Hotspur failed with a bid for Diaz earlier this week.
And while it’s not quite a mirror image of that infamous Willian deal from 2013 – when London neighbours Chelsea pipped Spurs to the post at the 11th hour – losing out on a top target to another top-flight rival certainly isn’t a good look for a club who have suffered more embarrassing moments and slip-ups over the last 12 months than an episode of You’ve Been Framed.
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