Leeds United held an interest in Luis Diaz but a Premier League switch looked unlikely as soon as Porto made it clear that the winger was going nowhere for less than £68 million, as reported by Record.
There are ‘selling clubs’ – and then there is FC Porto.
£43 million for Eder Militao. £32 million for Eliaquin Mangala. £35 million for Fabio Silva. £35 million for Hulk. A combined £50 million for James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho.
Star players don’t tend to stick around for long at the Estadio do Dragao. But when the time comes to cash in, Porto usually extract maximum value.
And after Luis Diaz shot to fame with four goals at this summer’s Copa America, hard-nosed president Pinto da Costa was never going to simply open the doors and let the Colombian run loose.
Dan James over Luis Diaz for Leeds United?
According to Record, Costa held a meeting with Diaz and his representatives last week, making it clear that the Primeira Liga powerhouses would not accept a penny less than £68 million for a man who has also been linked with Everton and Tottenham.
Such a fee would not have just broken Leeds United’s transfer record, it would have shattered into a million tiny pieces.
After spending over £100 million during their first summer back in the big time, Leeds decided to keep their powder dry this time around.
The Yorkshire giants have been watching Diaz for a while but, once it became clear that Porto were serious about making the 23-year-old the most expensive export in their history, Leeds headed for the hills in search of better value elsewhere.
Fortunately, Marcelo Bielsa, Victor Orta and co would eventually receive a very welcome boost from none other than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juventus might have allowed the Portuguese superstar to seal a dream return to Manchester United for as little as £13 million but that does not take into account his eye-watering weekly wages.
And, to compensate for Ronny’s return, United allowed Dan James to join the club that have been waiting for him, arms open, for 20 months.
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