Liverpool's £37m swoop for Luis Diaz signals a changing of the guard

Luis Diaz cut a forlorn figure as Liverpool thrashed Porto 5-1 at the Estadio do Dragao in the Champions League back in September.

The Reds' fearsome front three, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were all on the scoresheet that night but now Diaz could be set to join them.

Liverpool have made a dramatic late move to swoop in and sign Diaz from right under then noses of Tottenham and Manchester United by sending a team to Argentina to finalise a move.

Diaz, the Colombia international who has been with the Portuguese club since 2019, would cost Liverpool in the region of £37million. Add-ons could take that closer to £50m.

Jurgen Klopp has developed a fearsome front three in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino that has fired Liverpool to their sixth Champions League victory and their first league title in 30 years in the last few seasons.

But there is a cloud over the trio's future at Anfield with Mane, Firmino and - most worryingly of all for Liverpool fans - Salah all currently embroiled in contract negotiations.

All three will see their contracts expire in the summer of 2023, and so far no agreement has been reached with them. 

The thought of Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi on the bench doesn't exactly instil confidence into the Anfield faithful, despite their regular important cameos. 

The Japanese star has also been the subject of interest from Leeds and Monaco this month, while Atalanta are keen on the Belgium striker.

But the Reds have proven previously that they have a strategy in place for most eventualities.

Klopp had already begun preparing for a future without Liverpool's mega-stars with the arrival of Diogo Jota in September 2020. 

The Portugal international has been a revelation on