Transfer: How Benitez Everton transfer blunder pushed Diaz to Liverpool

Marcel Brands has confirmed that Everton were interested in making a big move for Luis Diaz back in 2021, only for Rafa Benitez to shoot down the deal that eventually saw his old club Liverpool snap up the brilliant winger.

Diaz joined the Reds in January 2022 from Porto in a deal worth an initial €45million, as Jurgen Klopp jumped ahead of Premier League rivals Tottenham to snatch the 26-year-old.

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The attacker has since gone on to score 15 goals in 59 games for Liverpool and struck an emotional 95th-minute equaliser during the 1-1 draw at Luton on Sunday.

However, things could have turned out very differently for Diaz if he had ended up on the other side of Stanley Park six months prior.

The Toffees wanted to bring in Diaz after he scored 16 goals in 28 appearances for Porto during the 2020/21 season.

However, despite only being appointed that summer, Benitez blocked the Toffees from signing the Colombia international as was “unsure on the player”.

That’s according to former Everton director of football Marcel Brands, who was working alongside Benitez before his departure in December 2021.