By Daniel Feliciano

4th Apr, 2022 | 8:45am

Stewart Downing says Leeds wanted to sign Luis Diaz before he joined Liverpool

Stewart Downing has claimed that Leeds United were looking at Luis Diaz for a potential transfer before he signed for Liverpool in January.

Marcelo Bielsa was keen to bolster his squad during the January transfer window, with the club linked with the likes of Takumi Minamino.

But former Liverpool winger Downing, who works with Sky Sports as a pundit, has told Goal that they wanted to sign Diaz along with Everton and Tottenham.

“A lot of clubs were chasing Diaz – I know Everton, Spurs, Leeds were all looking – but it couldn’t have turned out better for him, I don’t think,” he said. “He’s got the best move and Liverpool have got a great player. 

“Credit to him for coming and backing himself. A lot of players might have wondered if they’d play, but Diaz, just like Jota, has backed himself and look at the impact those two have had.”

Wow

Well, what a signing that would’ve been if the Whites had been able to pull it off during the January window.

Marcelo Bielsa’s eye for a player has never been in question, having signed Raphinha from the French Ligue 1 as well as several other players during his tenure that have worked out brilliantly.

Diaz has walked into the Liverpool side and fitted in seamlessly so it’s not a shock to say that he would’ve waltzed into the Leeds attack and hugely boosted their chances of survival.

That said it’s hard to see how they would have been able to pull off a deal considering Porto were playing Champions League football and he ended up costing Jurgen Klopp’s side £50m in total.

It seems like it may have been a bit of a pipe dream in all honesty, but it’s nice to know that the club were looking at quality players to bolster their squad at least.

In other Leeds news, Paul Merson reacts to major Leeds transfer talk this week, move is inevitable