‘Typical Spurs’.
That was the inevitable and somewhat understandable reaction to the news that Tottenham Hotspur had been pipped to the post by Premier League rivals Liverpool for the signature of Luis Diaz.
Spurs have been here before of course. Daniel Levy still hasn’t recovered from the embarrassment of missing out on Willian to Chelsea, a very public pieing that still rankles to this day. And then there’s Adama Traore, lured away by Barcelona just as Spurs appeared to be on the brink of making him Antonio Conte’s first signing in North London.
“Tottenham was one (of the clubs who wanted him),” explains Luis Manuel Diaz, the father of Liverpool’s new £37 million frontman.
“They got very scared and let themselves be caught by Liverpool. Liverpool were faster than (Spurs). They needed him and they took him away.
“There were many suitors who wanted Luis’ services. But he had the dream of joining Liverpool because Liverpool are an elite team.”
How good can Luis Diaz become?
Tottenham are not the only club who may be left to rue Diaz’s eventual £37 million move to Anfield. There is another side, somewhat closer to home, who also missed out on the twinkle-toed Colombian.
Fabrizio Romano reported, on August 28th, that Everton were ‘confident’ about tying up a then-£25 million deal for Diaz.
That was until James Rodriguez, who was supposed to head back to Porto as part of the transfer, scuppered things. Rodriguez priced himself out of a return to the Estadio do Dragao. And, soon enough, the Diaz deal was dead in the water.
Five months later, Diaz was finally on his way to Stanley Park. But the red half, rather than the blue one.
Two can play at that game, Liverpool
With Calciomercato reporting that Everton have joined AC Milan in the race for Wolfsburg’s Aster Vranckx, however, the Toffees could at least take some measure of revenge on their near neighbours.
But Vranckx, as mature off the pitch as he is on it, came to the conclusion that he’d be better taking centre stage at a ‘B-list club’ rather than ending up an extra in Jurgen Klopp’s all-star cast.
“I didn’t just want to be a bargain (signing) for a European superpower,” explained the Belgium U21 international.
Can Lampard lure Vranckx to Everton?
Having featured in all of the last 14 Bundesliga games he’s been available for, starting 11 of those, Vranckx’s decision certainly looks like the right one.
And Everton feels like a sensible next step in his development. Especially with Frank Lampard now patrolling the Goodison Park touchline. Lampard is not only one of the modern game’s finest midfielders but also a proven developer of young talent,
Liverpool took full advantage when Diaz slipped through Everton’s fingers. Now, The Toffees could prove that two can play at that time.
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