One man's loss is another man's gain and that is certainly the case for Jurgen Klopp when it comes to Luiz Diaz.
Liverpool were able to seal the £50million transfer for the Colombian star, who should perfectly complement the German's system.
It looks like the Reds have got themselves a steal as they managed to sign Diaz for half the price that Porto were originally looking for.
The Portugal clubs valued Diaz at £83m - which would trigger the £66.4m clause in his contract and hand former club Junior de Barranquilla £16.6m for the 20 per cent stake in the player they still hold.
But new Anfield transfer chief Julian Ward was able to drive down Porto’s demands as Liverpool paid £37.5m up front and have also agreed on a package of add-ons worth a potential £12.5m.
The 24-year-old put pen-to-paper on a five-year contract worth around £90,000-a-week.
But it turns out Diaz easily could have been playing in the UK three years ago.
Diaz claimed there was an agreement to join Cardiff City in 2019 from Junior and that he was "determined" to push through a move to South Wales in a deal worth £7m.
Cardiff scouted the winger against Brazilian side Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores.
Diaz told Caracol Radio in March 2019 (via AS), a radio station in his homeland: “Yes, there is already a pre-agreement, but I still have not said anything to them, nothing to the leaders that I agree with and that I’m going to go.
“Let’s say there is an agreement between clubs, but I’m still holding back. I told them that I am determined to go, but I am calm and I want to do things well. If the possibility is given, it would be good.”
Asked about the progress of a deal, Diaz revealed things were not in place for it to be announced.
“No, I have not yet submitted any medical exams," he added.
"Junior had a talk, which is a preliminary agreement and nothing has been confirmed, the proposal was put in place and I have not yet traveled there.”
A deal did not materialise, however, as Porto entered the race for Diaz's signature that following summer as Cardiff were relegated from the Premier League.
Diaz's compatriots Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez convinced him to snub other offers in favor of a switch to the Estadio do Dragao.
It turned out to be a huge missed opportunity by Cardiff as Diaz would excel for his two-and-a-half years in Primeira Liga, becoming a £50m player in the process.
Liverpool will still feel they have got themselves a bargain as they paid significantly less than Porto's asking price, but it remains a massive 'what if' for the Bluebirds as they currently sit just outside the relegation zone in the Championship.
