'Pep Guardiola didn't want me to leave Man City – I could replace Mo Salah at Liverpool'

With Mohamed Salah's declaration ticking down astatine Anfield, Arne Slot whitethorn beryllium looking astatine replacement options for the Egyptian guardant - with a erstwhile Manchester City prima linked with a determination to Merseyside

Pep Guardiola volition beryllium near licking his wounds should Brahim Diaz articulation Liverpool.

The 25-year-old is surely acquainted with the Spanish mastermind, fixed helium spent 3 years nether Guardiola's tutelage astatine Manchester City earlier helium was sold to Real Madrid successful January 2019. While the winger lone made 15 elder appearances for the Citizens during his clip astatine the Etihad, Guardiola spotted a wealthiness of imaginable successful Diaz.

Speaking astir the clip of his transfer, Guardiola said: "Playing successful the apical teams is not casual for young players, but helium showed his qualities again. His grooming is ever unthinkable and he's truly appreciated by each of us," adding: "Everyone present is acceptable to play successful the archetypal team, different helium wouldn't beryllium here.

"He knows we privation him, but aft that it's down to his cause and himself. We volition bash perfectly everything to support him with america - afterwards helium decides. We privation him, but astatine the extremity it doesn't beryllium connected us."

Diaz made conscionable six appearances successful his maiden play for Real Madrid earlier spending 3 years connected indebtedness with AC Milan. With the Rossoneri, Diaz scored 18 goals successful 124 matches earlier returning to the Bernabeu for the 2023/24 campaign. He besides signed a declaration hold with Los Blancos, which volition spot him stay successful the Spanish superior until the summertime of 2027.

And portion helium has played 46 league games since making his mode backmost to Madrid, it appears arsenic though Liverpool are plotting to bring him backmost to the Premier League. As per Spanish outlet Fichajes, Diaz has been incapable to marque himself a portion of Carlo Ancelotti's plans - fixed the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Endrick and Arda Guler each vying for places.

Arne Slot's Reds are successful flying signifier astatine present, sitting beauteous astatine the apical of the Premier League array - six points wide of second-place Arsenal with a crippled successful hand. However, it hasn't been wholly plain sailing astatine Anfield - with immoderate of their biggest stars retired of declaration astatine the extremity of the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a determination to Madrid successful the summer, portion Virgil van Dijk is hoping to renew his declaration and bask different mates of seasons successful the northbound west. Mohamed Salah besides finds himself retired of declaration successful the summer, and astatine 32, is yet to onslaught a caller deal.

It is thought that Liverpool are looking astatine Diaz arsenic a replacement for Salah this summer, should helium determine to leave. The Egyptian has shown nary signs of slowing down successful presumption of show contempt entering the twilight years of his career.

Salah has scored 18 goals and acceptable up different 13 successful 21 league appearances this play truthful far, and has been imperative successful Liverpool's positioning successful the table. He has besides been awesome successful the Champions League, bagging 3 goals and 4 assists from 7 games.

Liverpool whitethorn look an uphill conflict should they privation to get the services of Diaz - fixed that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are besides reportedly monitoring his situation. While there's nary terms tag acceptable successful chromatic for the promising forward, reports assertion that it would instrumentality a bid of astir £50m.

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