Recent speculation linking Manchester City with a move for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz has been firmly debunked by multiple reliable sources.
The rumors, which gained traction on social media, suggested that City had agreed on personal terms with Diaz for a five-year contract and were prepared to offer Liverpool €70 million (£59.8 million) to secure the Colombian’s services. However, these claims have been refuted by both Manchester City and Liverpool insiders.
The rumor originated from Spanish broadcaster El Chiringuito, which reported that Manchester City had successfully negotiated terms with Diaz. This claim was quickly picked up by various Liverpool and transfer-focused accounts on X (formerly Twitter), leading to widespread speculation.
One of the main reasons for the rumor’s rapid spread was the credibility of the original journalist, who had previously reported accurately on the collapse of Samu Omorodion’s transfer to Chelsea and had been referenced by renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
However, Romano himself was quick to dismiss the rumor, stating that “Manchester City sources deny any agreement” with Diaz.
This was echoed by other reputable journalists, including Liverpool’s James Pearce and Manchester City’s Sam Lee, who both confirmed that there was no truth to the speculation. These denials effectively shut down the rumor from all sides, putting an end to the circulating reports of Diaz’s potential move to City.
The rumors emerged shortly after Manchester City secured £81.5 million from the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine forward had been a key contributor to City’s recent successes, often serving as the first alternative to stars like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
However, Alvarez’s frustration with his role at the club ultimately led to his departure. Despite this significant cash influx, it appears that Manchester City is not in a hurry to reinvest the funds in a direct replacement for Alvarez.
Instead, City seems to be focusing on promoting talent from within their ranks. James McAtee and Oscar Bobb, both 21-year-olds who have spent time on loan and developed within the City academy, are expected to receive more game time this season.
Both players started in City’s recent Community Shield victory over Manchester United at Wembley, alongside another academy graduate, 19-year-old midfielder Nico O’Reilly. This suggests that Pep Guardiola is confident in the abilities of these young players to step up and fill the void left by Alvarez’s departure.
Rather than pursuing a high-profile signing like Diaz, Manchester City is more likely to use the funds from Alvarez’s sale to strengthen other areas of the squad.
Reports indicate that City is still interested in acquiring a deeper central midfielder, with Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes being a potential target. This approach aligns with Guardiola’s strategy of building a well-rounded squad capable of competing at the highest level, without necessarily relying on marquee signings.
