Liverpool are now expected to entertain offers for Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi after making an unexpected breakthrough for Porto winger Luis Diaz. The 25-year-old Colombian international now seems set for Anfield after the Reds tabled an offer of £37million plus around £12.5m in achievable add-ons.
Now they look set to acquire last summer's Copa America top scorer with club delegates expected to fly out to South America to conduct a medical and conclude a deal in due course.
Leeds' Raphinha and Jarrod Bowen of West Ham have also been placed under the magnifying glass in recent months but Diaz is the man firmly in Liverpool's sights.
Another blockbuster name in attack for the Reds will have consequences for several of his new team-mates though.
Liverpool are now expected to change their stance on both Minamino and Origi, who had both been regarded as unsellable this month due to Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah's involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool could now entertain offers for Takumi Minamino (Image: GETTY)
There has been interest from across Europe in the duo but Liverpool have rebuffed several enquiries in recent weeks to protect their squad depth this winter.
Leeds were among the clubs to sound out the availability of Japanese international Minamino, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Southampton.
However, the Whites and Monaco were told Minamino was not available this month. That could now change in the final days of the transfer window.
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Yet Salzburg are not willing to sell this month as they prepare for their first-ever Champions League knockout tie against Bayern Munich in February.
It means any deal will not have to wait until the summer, prompting Leeds to consider potential alternatives, including Minamino (loan).
The attacking midfielder is currently away in Japan on international duty and will not return to England until after the transfer window closes.
Any medical would have to be conducted by the Japan national team given foreign nationals are not allowed to enter the country under any circumstances (besides exceptional) due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.