Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes reportedly went ahead with the sale of Luis Diaz last summer, even though head coach Arne Slot wanted to keep the Colombian winger at Anfield.
Since the end of the Reds’ 2024/25 Premier League-winning campaign, several key players have departed, some unexpectedly. Diaz’s move to Bayern Munich stood out, with the forward scoring 17 goals in the previous season before joining Vincent Kompany’s side for £65.5m (The Guardian). He has already found the net 11 times in 18 appearances in Germany.
Hughes vs Slot: the Diaz decision
Sources speaking to CaughtOffside claim Hughes overruled Slot’s wishes regarding Diaz’s sale, a move the Dutch coach described as a “sad day.” Slot reportedly hoped to retain the 28-year-old and had even been advocating for a contract extension. Hughes, however, saw the transfer fee as too good to turn down and decided against prolonging Diaz’s stay.
This clash highlights a broader tension within Liverpool’s hierarchy. While the club has traditionally timed player sales effectively, losing Diaz—both for his goal-scoring and his relentless work ethic—has left a noticeable gap in the current squad.
Fans have previously debated how much influence Jurgen Klopp had over transfers in his final years at Anfield. The appointment of Slot as head coach, rather than full manager, appears to have been a strategic move to limit his input on incoming and outgoing transfers. As sporting director, Hughes may have wider control over such decisions, but overriding Slot entirely has fueled debate over communication and alignment at the club.
Liverpool’s decision-makers now face the task of ensuring that future transfer dealings are more collaborative, particularly when it involves players deemed vital by the coaching staff.
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