Luis Diaz’s form for Liverpool eases pressure on Mohamed Salah contract talks, says Gary Neville | Soccer News

Luis Diaz’s form since his January move to Liverpool has eased pressure on Mohamed Salah’s contract situation at Anfield, according to Gary Neville.

The Colombian joined the Reds from Porto on January 30, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract for an initial fee of £37m – with the fee potentially up to £49m.

Diaz has scored three goals and provided one assist in his eight Premier League appearances so far, and impressed in Manchester United’s 4-0 demolition on Tuesday night.

While Salah is set to agree a new contract to extend his stay on Merseyside, his current deal expires in June 2023 and he said sky sports earlier this month: “I can’t be selfish and talk about my situation. We’re in the most important time for the team.”

And talking about The Gary Neville PodcastNeville said the decision to go for Diaz in January was further proof of Liverpool’s clever planning.

He said: “The Carabao Cup final was the first time I saw the boy live. He plays on the left side and I watch him from a right-back perspective so I think I have a pretty good an eye on what I would have liked and what I wouldn’t have liked. And I thought, ‘Oh my God. What a player he is.”

“His tenacity, his skill, his pace, his combat, his spirit – everything. They found another and, again, he didn’t cost much.

“Liverpool acted [to sign him in January] because Spurs were probably going to step in; they were probably going to wait until the end of the season. Now Liverpool have five strikers who are truly world class. All five are, honestly.

“Roberto Firmino has been one of my favorites over the last five or six years. I know he’s the underrated one and the sometimes underrated one, but for me he’s contributed a lot incredible levels of club performance in terms of how dovetailed it is.

“I always think of the players I valued so much at United who may not have made the headlines, but who were so important to the way the team connected and how the team grew. is tight – I think Firmino did it. He’s still here and he’s working well right now.

“Diogo Jota caused a stir from the moment he signed; the other two are global stars: Mo Salah and Sadio Mane. And Diaz looks like a star of the future who, in fact, in some ways takes a bit of pressure .of Salah’s situation, that they have someone ready to come in. That’s what big clubs do, they have a treadmill.

“What Sir Alex Ferguson has done for many years is prepare for the next one so no one is holding the club to ransom. Big clubs don’t just build for three years, they have the next player to come and that’s what Liverpool are doing here.”