Liverpool prepare for unusual transfer plans as Luis Diaz injury update emerges

It has become an encouragingly regular feature of Liverpool’s transfer dealings in recent years. And Cody Gakpo was merely the latest example of how the Reds prefer to do business, writes Ian Doyle.

Before the January transfer window had even been swung open, the Anfield side proudly announced they had agreed a deal worth a potential £44million to take the Holland international forward from PSV Eindhoven.

The move followed what has become a tradition – particularly in January – of Liverpool doing business as early as possible, with Takumi Minamino in 2020 and Virgil van Dijk in 2018 two prominent New Year examples.

Often the work is done behind the scenes away from the glare of supporters, the media and, even more impressively, the tittle-tattle of the rumour mill. Consider the transfer of Fabinho, announced two days after Liverpool had lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid in May 2018 mere hours after first whispers emerged of a potential deal.

Of course, it isn’t always achievable, with each transfer having many moving parts that need to come together in sync before the deal can finally be realised.

But targets are usually identified long in advance with transfers, such as the one that brought Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig just days after the end of the 2020/21 season, months in the offing.

Luis Diaz comeback latest

Liverpool will look to maintain their Premier League revival when they take on Bournemouth in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

The Reds go into the game on the back of four domestic wins out of five, and thrashed the Cherries 9-0 at home back in August. Jurgen Klopp put his players through their paces at a snowy Kirkby on Thursday afternoon as they continue their preparations for the Vitality Stadium clash.

But what could be gleaned from the session?

Diaz caution

There had been some suggestions earlier in the week that Luis Diaz was expected to ramp up his rehabilitation sufficiently to be included in the squad for Saturday’s match.

Liverpool, though, remain cautious with the fitness of the Colombian winger, who hasn’t featured since initially injuring his knee at Arsenal back in October.

And having not trained with the team on Wednesday, Diaz was once again absent from the full session with a comeback after the international break now looking most likely.