The most expensive transfer in football history could have ramifications for Liverpool and Luis Diaz.

According to Ben Jacobs, a correspondent for talkSPORT, the Saudi Pro League is once again preparing a significant offer to try and sign Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.

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The club making the approach are Al-Ahli, which means Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr will have to look elsewhere for reinforcements.

Jacobs adds that Diaz is the most likely alternative, having emerged as one of Europe’s top wingers since moving to Liverpool.

The Colombian has 15 goals and five assists this season for the Premier League-leading Reds, the best total of his career in all competitions.

Initially signed from Porto in January 2022 for £37.5million, Diaz penned a five-year deal which expires in two seasons time.

As is common in contemporary football, clubs often settle players’ future contracts well in advance of the final year to prevent them from starting talks with other clubs and possibly moving without a transfer fee.

That may well see Arne Slot’s bosses faced with an irresistible offer from big-spending SPL for their star Colombian.

Al Nassr have already made such a move, signing Diaz’s countryman Jhon Duran from Aston Villa in January for a massive £64m.

Ultimately, the choice might be in Diaz’s hands, especially since financial figures do not appear to inhibit the Saudi league, a fact demonstrated by their pursuit of Vinicius.

Al Ahli are prepared to spend €350m [£303m] on the Brazilian, eclipsing the all-time record by some distance.

Qatar-backed Paris Saint-Germain signed Neymar from Barcelona in 2017 for £200m, a record which still stands today.

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Yet his countryman is seen as attainable with things not going swimmingly at Madrid this season.

Vinicius was one of the best players in the world during the 2023/24 season, scoring in a Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund and adding a LaLiga crown.

However, that wasn’t enough for him to become the first Brazilian Ballon d’Or winner since Kaka in 2007, and Madrid later boycotted the ceremony won by Manchester City’s Rodri.

Since then things have become complicated for him with Kylian Mbappe signed in the same left wing position and the pair treading on each other’s feet.

On January 3 he received his first straight red card for Real with a shove on Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and had to be held back from referee Cesar Soto Grade by his teammates.

Five days later Carlo Ancelotti walked out of a press conference due to repeated questions about the 24-year-old’s attitude.

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Since then he’s seen both the media and fans show signs of turning on him, with the Bernabeu booing his second missed penalty of the season in the home tie against Valencia at the start of April.

Before that Madrid-based outlet MARCA penned an editorial criticising the player for his form and attitude.

“Vinicius has become a problem for Real Madrid,” editor Raul Varela wrote.

“I don’t know if it’s the Ballon d’Or that he didn’t get, The FIFA Best that he got, the coexistence at all levels with Kylian Mbappe or the call from Saudi Arabia that he doesn’t really want to answer, but his entourage speaks for him. The fact is that this Vinicius is different.

“Nobody sees him as a substitute, but nobody sees him as an indisputable starter either, given his performances, which are now well below those of Kylian, Rodrygo and I would even say Brahim [Diaz].

“You no longer go past a cone, the referees are no longer afraid to give you cards, your coach is tired of doing so much therapy and even your teammates point the finger at you for an uncorrected error.”