Luis Diaz "not a big signing" for Liverpool as transfer difference to Man City hailed

Liverpool legend John Barnes has explained how Luis Diaz can not be dubbed a "big January signing" due to the limited interest in him from other clubs at the time.

After a stellar start to life in Merseyside, many other clubs may be looking at their scouting department and demanding to know why they didn't register more of an interest in a player that has taken to the Premier League so seamlessly.

Diaz has given just about every English back-line he has faced so far quite the headache.

The 25-year-old is quite the showman, as exhibited by his recent show of skill in the fiercely contested Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield. Diaz got the Kop faithful out of their seats with a Neymar-esque touch to bring the ball down by jumping in the air and controlling it with what can only be described as a mid-air rabona.

The January transfer window is often viewed as one where squad players are added rather than high-profile attacking talent, but some have suggested Diaz could go down as one of the best mid-season signings in Premier League history. Barnes has since had his say on the matter.

Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football on behalf of Gambling.com, the Liverpool icon explained: "That [Diaz] is not a big January signing, if it was Real Madrid, Barcelona and everybody else would be after him and he didn't cost that much money. This is a signing that Jurgen Klopp makes because he knows he can integrate him into a team and be successful as he has now.

"Very much like how it was when [Mohamed] Salah came, [Sadio] Mane came, there wasn't a big clamour for them and as much as they have gone on to be the players that they are - that's to do with Klopp being able to identify the template of player he wants.

"Diaz