Luis Díaz to Liverpool - what you need to know about the best player in Portugal

The deal is virtually done. Portugal are set to lose their most impressive footballer, Luis Díaz, who is to complete a dream move to the English Premier League.

FC Porto will receive an initial 45 million euros for his services, which is expected to rise by a further 15 million should the player achieve some manageable targets at his new club.

Once closely linked with a move to Everton, it is their neighbours and arch rivals who are to complete the signing of the Colombian international, overcoming Tottenham Hotspur's recent attempts to secure his signature.

Spurs made an approach late in the window, attempting to sign Díaz for a very similar fee, but were unsuccessful, with Díaz willing to hold out for a proposal from a club of a larger stature.

That’s where Liverpool came in, offering a similar package to the one offered by Antonio Conte's current employers, but due to the stature of the club, it was deemed too good an opportunity to deny the Primeira Liga's top talent.

It will represent a major loss to Sergio Conceição and his team though, who are chasing the Portuguese league title and are now well over a year unbeaten in the Primeira Liga.

Díaz represents an exciting, skilful and ultimately clinical winger who has proven his ability time and again to find the back of the net in addition to setting up his teammates, at potentially crucial moments too.

Just how good is Luis Díaz?

Testament to Díaz's importance to his team is the fact that Porto manager Conceição is reportedly dissatisfied with the conclusion of this deal. Further testament is that virtually everyone in Portugal, regardless of club affiliation, feels that this is a poor deal for Porto - they should really be holding out for more money for one of the best players to ply their trade in the country in many years.

With Porto still fighting for the league title, the Portuguese Cup, and potentially the Europa League trophy too, Porto couildn’t really afford to lose their most crucial asset at such a late stage of the transfer window.

That’s exactly what's happened though, and as a result Porto are going to be lacking a potent goalscoring threat from the wing. Díaz scored a quite remarkable 14 goals - and assisted a further 5 - in 18 league appearances for Porto this season, exploding on his very reasonable output from the previous two campaigns.

That’s, of course, not including the two goals he bagged for Porto against AC Milan in the Champions League either, and it's also worth harking back to that tremendous solo goal he produced against Manchester City in the same competition last season on the biggest stage in world football. It is no wonder the ears of some of the world's most reputable clubs pricked at such a performance.

Goals are far from the only important factor in a players ability though, and Díaz has consistently produced some of the most scintillating and entertaining moments of the Portuguese football calendar with his explosive dribbling ability a constant avenue for Porto to exploit opposition defences.

He can pull off a moment of genius at any given moment that can almost singlehandedly turn a game on its head. That delightful goal against Man City is just one of a hatful of examples.

Much more recently, for example, is Porto’s exciting 2-3 victory over Estoril. Porto trailed 2-1 with just 6 minutes of normal time remaining. Luis Díaz was the man to hammer home the equaliser, and was then the architect behind the very late winner, his direct style and quick change of direction on the left wing helping him navigate past the defender and centre the ball for Chico Conceição - the manager’s son - to rifle home. Throughout the match, Díaz always presented Porto's most likely way back into the game. Porto's entire attacking threat seemingly ran through him.

What’s also remarkable about Luis Diaz is the sheer consistency he has been demonstrating. It’s difficult to recall a particular game this season in which he was not influential. His ability to perform week on week is what makes him such a lethal weapon to possess, and why so many believe he should have been sold for more.

As you would expect from a player working under the management of Conceição, Díaz also has an excellent work rate, which will slot him into Liverpool’s system nicely.

For a relatively unselfish player, his goalscoring exploits at Porto are all the more impressive.

The predictable question among the Liverpool fanbase will be 'is he cut out for the Premier League?’. The answer to that should be a resounding yes.

His importance to Porto, having worked hard to become an established first team player before cementing his status as star man, is very much comparable to Bruno Fernandes in terms of his goalscoring contribution and ability to unlock defences. Their styles are entirely different of course, and one thing Díaz clearly has that Fernandes lacks is that explosive, direct dribbling that can get fans off their seats and carve open stubborn defences.

The comparison is important, however, as there were doubts as to whether Fernandes would be able to step up when having to play for Man Utd. He, obviously, went on to become their key man the very season he joined, and revitalised the team, contributing goals and assists at a similar rate to that in which he managed at Sporting.

The point is, a great football is a great footballer, regardless of where they play. And Díaz is beyond great. In a country blessed with a constant conveyer belt of talent, both domestically produced and shrewdly imported, Díaz is one of the best we've seen of this generation - and should fit Liverpool perfectly.