Liverpool ‘took’ Luis Diaz away from Tottenham after they ‘hesitated’ over transfer

Liverpool secured the signing of Luis Diaz in the January transfer market for an initial fee of £37 million after beating off competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Diaz, 25, made his Reds debut last weekend, coming off the bench in the FA Cup victory over Cardiff City to play a part in Takumi Minamino’s second half strike.

Jurgen Klopp now has an abundance of quality in his attacking options with Diaz joining Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

“They took him away”

Both Liverpool and Tottenham were linked with moves for the former FC Porto man but it was Klopp’s side who sealed the deal.

Diaz’s dad, Luis Manuel Diaz, has spoken about the move to Blog Deportivo on Colombia’s Blu Radio and has already heaped praise on the Reds after just one game for his son.

In an interview relayed by Marca Claro, the Liverpool winger’s father said: “There were many suitors who wanted Luis’ services, but he had the dream of reaching Liverpool. Because Liverpool are an elite team.

“After the first game, he told me that it was a team that works hard, complete, in which he will feel comfortable and will have the chance to play with high-performance players.”

Whilst it seemed that only Liverpool and Spurs were eyeing up the winger, who had scored 14 league goals in 18 games in Portugal, the father of the new Anfield winger revealed that Italian side AS Roma were also keen.

But he was adamant that Liverpool were his son’s preference.

Luis Diaz senior said: “Tottenham was one. Roma was also left behind in the process. They hesitated a lot and let themselves be caught by Liverpool,” he said.

“Liverpool were faster than them, they needed him and they took him away.”

Diaz is in contention to make his first Premier League appearance on Thursday when Liverpool host Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City, hoping to close the gap on league leaders Manchester City.