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Luis Diaz is on course to be Premier League’s best-ever January signing ahead of likes of Vidic, Fernandes and Van Dijk

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LUIS DIAZ is on course to become the greatest ever January signing.

The £37million Colombian winger was parachuted into England during the transfer window and gave Liverpool some extra firepower although no-one expected him to become such an instant success.

Luis Diaz is quickly becoming one of the Premier League’s best-ever January transfersCredit: Getty
Nemanja Vidic goes down as one of the Prem’s top mid-season transfersCredit: Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk is another January buy to help transform Liverpool, much like Luis DiazCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Remarkably, Diaz could end the season with five pieces of silverware as he is set to land a Portuguese Primeira Liga winners’ medal for his performances with Porto in the first half of the season.

He scored 14 goals and delivered five assists in his 18 League appearances before sealing that move to Anfield.

Tottenham, West Ham and Everton missed out on signing him and they must all be cursing about the one that got away.

Diaz, 25, has scored three goals and delivered two assists in his 10 games in the Premier League.

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But it is his skill, awareness and unbelievable energy which has helped change games in Liverpool’s favour.

None more so than the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal on Tuesday when he replaced Diogo Jota at half-time.

With Liverpool trailing, he led the fightback – and also scored a goal – in a 3-2 win before breaking down in tears after the game.

Lots of Premier League players have joined in January and ended up enjoying terrific spells with those clubs.

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At Liverpool, Luis Suarez (2011) and Philippe Coutinho (2013) arrived in the middle of the season and both made their marks.

Virgil van Dijk joined from Southampton in 2018 and helped Liverpool to the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid.

Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic (both 2006) became Manchester United legends while Bruno Fernandes (2020) also had an instant impact.

Chelsea signed Branislav Ivanovic (2008) and brought back Nemanja Matic (2014) with both enjoying glittering spells.

But none won the title or a Champions League trophy. For that, you have to go to Jose Reyes at Arsenal.

Although seen as having a mixed time overall, he arrived from Sevilla in 2004 and his goals helped get Arsenal over the line to not only win the Premier League but to see them finish the season unbeaten.

Before the transfer window was introduced, Liverpool signed Ronny Rosenthal in March 1990 on loan from Standard Liege in Belgium.

He scored seven goals in eight top-flight matches to steer the Merseyside giants to a third title in five years.

And currently, it looks as though Diaz could have a similar impact as it seems certain they will win at least one more of the three trophies currently available.

Defender Andy Robertson, whose team face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on next Saturday, believes the best is yet to come from Diaz, who was in tears at the final whistle in Spain.

The Scotsman said: “He has been special. We’ve tried to help him as much as we can, all the players. We know how difficult it is coming in January.

“The coaches and everyone else have got him up to speed but he is a special, special player. The talent he has and the will to win – he just fits us perfectly.

“It was tough to take Jota off, I think he has been excellent this season, but Luis came on and made a big, big difference.

“He played on the left, started pushing them back, dribbling the ball and everything. A really good half from him.

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Mel B beams as she curtsies to William while receiving MBE in front of proud mum

“He’s been special since he came in and it’s been a pleasure to play with him. Hopefully he will only get better.

“With a full pre-season under his belt, I believe he will get better, which is scary, but what he has produced in the here and now is pretty special as well.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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