Don Hutchison has claimed that Liverpool fans will be ‘devastated’ at the strong possibility of losing Sadio Mane, but at the same time, Luis Diaz ‘excited me last season like you wouldn’t believe’, as he told Radio 5 Live Sport.
With Darwin Nunez through the doors, after his transfer from Benfica, it seems as though it’s only a matter of when Mane signs on the dotted line for Bayern Munich.
On one hand, the Merseyside giants, after securing two trophies last season, would have been excited at what more they could achieve, especially given that Jurgen Klopp penned a new contract.
Yes, there was the talk in the background of Mane and Mo Salah’s contract – the latter will stay on for next season, with no new deal yet agreed.
But not many thought Mane would be leaving this summer, but that seems to be the case now, as Hutchison shared that he is ‘gutted’ for the Anfield faithful.
“I think he is outrageously underrated,” said Hutchison. “I think he has been a superb player, on and off the pitch.
“What he has done for his country as well. I think it’s amazing. Winning the AFCON’s and taking Senegal to the World Cup.
“He will be a loss. But I think what Liverpool see in Luis Diaz is that they see him playing on that left-hand side instead of Sadio Mane. Then, Darwin Nunez going through the middle and Mo Salah on the right-hand side.
“It’s one of them where Liverpool fans will be devastated that they have lost Sadio Mane. It’s a little bit of a contradiction because I am gutted for them as well.
But, at the same time, Luis Diaz excited me last season like you wouldn’t believe.”
MORE PRESSURE ON DIAZ AND NUNEZ
Come next season, whilst Mo Salah will still be able to produce the goods out on that right-hand side for the Reds, more will be expected of others.
Diogo Jota hit 15 Premier League goals last season, despite going through a bad patch towards the end, so he has proven that he can deliver, as can Roberto Firmino.
But a lot of eyes will be on Nunez, especially given the price tag on his head, as well as what numbers Diaz can hit in front of goal.
Whilst the Colombian star was all action, many are going to expect some serious end product to his never-stop attitude from the flanks.
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