What is really happening with Luis Diaz contract as Liverpool confirm USA trip

All the latest off-diary Reds news as Paul Gorst brings you the titbits from around Anfield in his Liverpool Notebook

After a perfect start to life in the Premier League, Arne Slot will be understandably enjoying his first international break as Liverpool’s head coach. Three games, nine points and zero goals conceded sees the Reds riding high ahead of the return of domestic action next week when they entertain Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

It may be all quiet at the front of house right now as the club continues to bask in the 3-0 humbling of Manchester United on Sunday.

But there’s still plenty happening behind the scenes. Here’s this week’s Liverpool Notebook as the ECHO brings the latest tidbits from around Anfield.

READ MORE: What the ECHO has learned about Mohamed Salah future plans as Liverpool contract approach explainedREAD MORE: Three Liverpool favourites frozen out after Jurgen Klopp warning as transfer windows close

Luis Diaz contract talks dismissed

Reports that Luis Diaz is set to be offered a new contract imminently at Liverpool have been dismissed.

The Colombia international is still tied to the same terms he penned when he joined the club from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37.5m in January of 2022 and has started the campaign in excellent fashion.

Three goals in his last two games, against Brentford and Man United, have brought Diaz’s contract situation up for discussion in recent days, with the former Porto winger having three years left on his deal. That came after speculation over the summer with Barcelona linked with a move for the No.7.

However, reports that the club are to sit down with Diaz’s representatives to thrash out a new deal are understood to be wide of the mark. All parties are relaxed over the situation and Liverpool have more pressing concerns with regards to contracts, with Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk all well inside their respective finals years.

Online figures suggesting Diaz is paid around £55,000 a week at Anfield have also been rubbished. It’s claimed his importance to the cause at Anfield is reflected in his weekly pay packet and while fresh terms may form part of a debate at some stage, there is no suggestion contract talks between the club and the attacker’s agents are near just yet.

Liverpool to embark on fresh US tour

After the roaring success of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States, a delegation from Anfield is set to fly Stateside once more this month.

Having seen Slot and his players pick up victories over Real Betis in Pittsburgh, Arsenal in Philadelphia and Manchester in Columbia across late July and early August, the Reds are heading across the Atlantic again as they return to New York to showcase the ‘LFC Experience’ in the Big Apple.

More than half of the club’s partners now have their headquarters in the United States and as a result, Liverpool are heading to New York later this month with Martin Skrtel and Lucas Leiva in tow.

The ‘LFC Experience’ aims to put on a series of events designed for fans and commercial partners, with Skrtel and Lucas set to meet supporters from Brooklyn’s Official Liverpool Supporters’ Clubs.

According to the latest figures from Global Web Index, there are over 24 million LFC fans in the USA alone, with 67 Official Liverpool Supporters’ Clubs across 35 states and Kate Theobald, who is the head of global partnership sales at Liverpool FC, said: “We are looking forward to bringing this unforgettable LFC Experience to New York City this month to engage with our loyal fans and partners.

“This region is one of our biggest international markets, and the LFC Experience will provide a unique platform to amplify our reach and continue to strengthen our ties in the US, where more than half of our partners are now headquartered.”

The events will take place from September 26-28 and coincides with New York Climate Week (NYCW), which will see Skrtel and Lucas accompany Rishi Jain, director of Impact at LFC, on a visit to the United Nations to discuss their ongoing collaborative work as part of Global Goals Week.

The club will also host and participate in a panel discussion on sustainability and the role of sports and brands driving change alongside representatives from other major US sports organisations.

“New York Climate Week provides a fantastic platform for us to highlight our sustainability initiative – The Red Way – and how we are striving to lead the way in sport to build a better future for our people, planet and communities,” says Mr Jain.

“It is an opportunity to come together and collaborate with our partners and stakeholders on sustainability and share best practices as well as explore how sports as a whole can promote sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

“We are also delighted that as part of our visit to NYC we have the chance to take our Legends to the UN’s headquarters to hear more about The Red Way’ ambitious targets to make a real impact and how it is supporting 14 of the UN’s sustainable development goals.”

With the impressive figures from the summer tour aligned with the fact that so many of the club’s growing number of commercial partners are based in New York, it’s possible that a pre-season tour on the East Coast of the United States will form part of the conversation when plans begin to take shape in the future.