Former Liverpool star John Barnes believes that not only is Luis Diaz the perfect profile for Jurgen Klopp's front three but he could replace either Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane.
The Reds swooped to secure the signature of the Colombian last week after he was the subject of a bid from Tottenham Hotspur in the final days of the winter transfer window.
The 25-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Liverpool and will wear the number 23 shirt.
The fee for Diaz could rise to as much as £49m if potential add-ons are triggered during his time at Anfield and he was initially a top target for manager Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
READ MORE: Takumi Minamino running out of time as Jurgen Klopp proved wrong at Liverpool
READ MORE: Liverpool chairman Tom Werner explains £667m deal and hints at major FSG move
But after Spurs made a move for the winger, the Reds stepped in and secured a deal for the Colombia international, who always preferred a move to Anfield.
“It’s a good signing. I saw him when Porto played at Anfield and he impressed me,” the former Liverpool star told BonusCodeBets.co.uk when asked about Diaz’s arrival.
“He fits what Liverpool want: he’s strong and direct and Liverpool look for a profile of player in each position that suits what Jurgen Klopp wants.
"It’s not just their individual ability, it’s whether they suit the system and the style he demands.
“Diaz hasn’t just been signed for cover - you look at the contract situation with Salah and Liverpool will always be planning for the future.
“It’s very much like Jota coming in, it brings competition for places and also in the long term will be good business.”
However, one transfer Liverpool missed out on in January was Fabio Carvalho, who had, at one point, looked destined to become a Reds player.
The Reds had agreed a fee with the Cottagers for Carvalho, who is out of contract at the end of the season, just hours before the 11pm cut-off point on Monday evening.
But the deal came unstuck over Fulham's insistence the 19-year-old returned on loan to Craven Cottage for the remainder of the season.
While the Reds happily agreed to the request, that the EFL does not allow 'deal sheets' meant the loan part of the transfer wasn't concluded in time before the deadline.
Yet Barnes believes it was a deal that Liverpool didn’t need to do and is one that they could revisit during the summer window.
“He’s definitely one for the future. He wouldn’t have come in and played straight away,” Barnes said on the move.
“Going back on loan to Fulham was muted, but maybe he’ll sign in the summer. From a short term point of view, it’s not one that Liverpool needed to get done in January.”
