Liverpool want to replace Luis Diaz with risky signing worth nearly £100m
Liverpool are finally looking to replace Luis Diaz. However, this one is a £100m risk.
Liverpool controversially sold Luis Diaz without a replacement in the summer. The Reds did take in a lot of money for the Colombian - but didn’t spend it on a new winger.
And that created a huge problem. Liverpool were near-reliant on Diaz to be the forward who consistently attacked defenders one-v-one and broke the lines that way.
Without him, Liverpool just don’t have that kind of player. Rio Ngumoha isn’t quite ready and no one else in the squad offers that kind of direct running.
It’s a problem Arne Slot has voiced this season. “You always miss good players,” Slot said of Díaz this week, per the Telegraph. “He was so important for us last season."
Well, it appears Liverpool are taking action to find that replacement. It’s a risky one, though.
Anthony Gordon in for Luis Diaz
Caught Offside reports that Liverpool are looking at Anthony Gordon in a deal that could reach around £95m. Now, whether Newcastle United are willing to deal with the Reds is another matter - but there's strong interest from Anfield.
In fact, the report claims Liverpool lead the race here. They appear certain he’s the one for them, going back in for Gordon two years after they initially looked to sign him.
It would make Gordon the replacement on the left for Diaz. A direct winger who likes to consistently run forward with the ball, attack defenders and get the ball in the box.
Former Pro Bowl NFL lineman Tre' Johnson dies at 54
Former NFL offensive lineman Tre' Johnson died on Sunday while the family was on a trip, according to a Facebook post from his wife, Irene. He was 54 years old.
"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my husband, Tre' Johnson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly ... during a brief family trip," Irene Johnson wrote. "His four children, Chloe, EJ, EZ and Eden, extended family, friends, and I are devastated and in shock."
After playing college football at Temple, he was selected with the 31st overall pick in the 1994 draft by Washington. Johnson spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career in Washington before spending the 2001 season with the Browns.
He returned to Washington for his final season in the league, starting three of the 10 games he played in during the 2002 season.
He started 72 of the 93 games he played in, and was also named to the Pro Bowl in 1999.
The Washington Commanders posted the following on their official X account: "We're heartbroken to learn of the loss of former Washington All-Pro guard Tre' Johnson. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."
After finishing his NFL career, he became a history teacher at Landon School, a private school in Bethesda, Maryland. Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the school due to recent health issues, according to his wife.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former NFL lineman Tre' Johnson dies at 54
Red Sox President Sam Kennedy Assesses Rollercoaster Offseason
Boston Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy addressed the media at spring training on Sunday, speaking at length on a number of topics ahead of the 2026 season.
One reporter asked Kennedy to assess the Red Sox’s offseason, which prompted an optimistic response.
“It was a successful offseason,” Kennedy said. “It was long, arduous, lots of scenario planning, but excited that we improved the club in many ways.”
Boston made several high-profile moves this winter, upgrading at multiple positions. The Red Sox significantly improved their starting rotation after signing Ranger Suarez and trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, giving them one of the best rotations in baseball.
Boston also improved at first base by trading for Willson Contreras after struggling to get reliable production there with Triston Casas’ injuries over the past two seasons. The club shored up its infield defense as well, signing multiple former Gold Glove winners in Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Brendan Rodgers.
Kennedy is hopeful those moves will help the Red Sox get back to the playoffs and go deeper into the postseason this year after they were eliminated in the AL Wild Card Round last fall.
“We said at the end of the year that we wanted to try to take that next step forward with this group in the postseason,” Kennedy said. “We obviously have a number of upgrades and additions. Time will tell, but there’s a lot of optimism in that room, I can tell you for sure.”
Boston’s starting pitching looks elite, but the lineup has some question marks given Alex Bregman’s departure, the lack of high-end power and the surplus of outfielders. The Red Sox appear to have enough arms to contend for a title, but do they have enough bats?
As Kennedy said, time will tell.
Heat and storms give rise to extreme fire forecast in Victoria
Almost half the state is expected to face extreme fire conditions tomorrow due to a mix of heat, dry fuels and gusty afternoon storms.