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Football London
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Rob Guest

'On a separate planet!' - Tottenham's surprise Luis Diaz decision as Liverpool hijack transfer

Tottenham could be about to make a statement signing with the addition of Luis Diaz from Porto before Monday's January transfer deadline.

Making a name for himself across the globe due to his outstanding form for the Portuguese giants, Spurs may be set to win the race for the Colombian amid previous links with Liverpool and Manchester United.

There is a confidence within the club that a deal can come to fruition and the arrival of the 25-year-old would give the Lilywhites a mouthwatering front three.

Scoring 14 goals and registering five assists in his 18 league games in 2021/22, it's no wonder why Tottenham fans are so excited about the possibility of Diaz signing on the dotted line over the coming days.

But what have others in the game had to say about the Tottenham target? football.london takes a look.

South American football expert Tim Vickery on Diaz

"He's very eye-catching. He's a winger, usually a left winger cutting in on to his stronger right foot.

"He's got a goal in him. This I suppose is the way that Tottenham like to do business, sniffing around right as the window is closing and come in with cheaper offers than the club would ideally really like to accept.

"My surprise with this deal is that while he's a very fine player, you look at the Tottenham line-up at the moment and if you're going to spend that kind of money, is that the area of the team that really needs strengthening?

Luis Diaz is on Colombia international duty with Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez over the next week (Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)

"He will be a player who I can't imagine playing as a wing-back. I know Conte loves his wing-backs and we all know the Victor Moses story and so on.

"He could play there I suppose but I don't think he's really got any track record for that. He's a player for the front three.

"As a player who operates from the left going in to the right, that's Son's position. That's not a position you urgently need to reinforce. I'm a little bit surprised with that."

Former Colombia manager Carlos Queiroz on Diaz

"Now Luis, he's in a phase of adaptation to European football, he's learning from a mistake here and there, like what happened to other great players that he's had in my career like Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and [Paulo] Futre".

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson on Diaz

"Luis Diaz is an excellent player, he does a lot of work for the defence, he did it in the goals of Copa America.

"In Porto he comes with good performances, and here our task is to see Colombia as a whole and to worry about how we should destroy it."

Portuguese publication A Bola on Diaz

"In the field (Luis Díaz) has been an indomitable dragon, capable of taking the team without help to incredible heights.

"The price rises week by week and the sharks of England no longer just salivate with what they observe in the field.

"He is an ace that seems to literally live on a separate planet."

Former Porto teammate Sergio Oliveira on Diaz

“I don’t have to answer, we know his qualities, apart from the human level he is also extraordinary on a technical level. The best for him will also be the best for us as a team.”

Porto captain Pepe on Diaz

"It is the professionalism and passion of representing this club. We know the importance of wearing this shirt. It is a pride to have players like him."

Ex-Barranquilla coach Fernel Diaz on Diaz

"Lucho can shoot from outside the area, he is comfortable with both feet, he can dribble, open defences up and score goals. He can do everything."

Jaime Moscote, his former manager at Junior Barranquilla, on Diaz

"Lucho was one of the most reserved players, who was usually quiet and spoke very little. He is a very hard working guy, who came first to every training session and gave absolutely everything.”

Former coach John Pocillo Diaz on Diaz

"Lucho had a big problem, because he had a habit of running with the ball looking at the ground, and often didn't even notice that he had reached the end of the field.

“He was very fast, possessed brilliant technical skills, and the ball stuck to his foot like glue, but he had to learn."

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