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Revealed: Manchester City rejected offer to sign Liverpool star in 2024

A new report has revealed the transfer offer that was made to Manchester City by Liverpool in the summer of 2024, ultimately rejected by Etihad Stadium officials.

The 2024 summer transfer window proved a turning point for several members of Pep Guardiola’s squad, as Manchester City made major structural changes in pursuit of fresh energy and balance.

Julián Álvarez was among the most high-profile exits, eventually joining Atlético Madrid in a package deal worth over £70 million. But it has now emerged that his destination could have been very different had Etihad Stadium bosses acted on one proposal.

Manchester City had been reshaping their attacking department at the time, welcoming new faces while weighing up the futures of those who had grown somewhat unsettled by squad rotation, signing Savinho from ESTAC Troyes off the back of an impressive loan at Girona.

At the same time, Luis Díaz’s situation at Liverpool was under the spotlight, with reports of growing frustrations about his role and desire to take on a new challenge. Those circumstances led to an audacious suggestion between the two clubs.

Despite the speculation, it was clear from the start that Manchester City’s recruitment policy remains focused on strengthening without empowering direct domestic rivals – a stance that has long underpinned their transfer decisions.

According to the information of The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe, Liverpool had learned of a desire from the side of star forward Luis Díaz to join Manchester City in the summer of 2024.

It is claimed that the Anfield club’s recruitment team proposed the Colombian forward could move to the Etihad Stadium in exchange for Pep Guardiola’s Argentine international striker, Julián Alvarez.

However, it is claimed that in response to the idea, Manchester City told their Anfield counterparts, “We don’t sell to rivals”. In response, Liverpool said, “Neither do we then,” bringing an end to any chance of the move taking place.

In light of those talks, Manchester City would go on to sell Alvarez to Atlético Madrid in a big-money package agreement, while Díaz stayed on Merseyside and ‘put his disappointment behind him’ in the words of The Telegraph.

Had circumstances been different, Pep Guardiola might have found himself with Díaz operating in wide areas alongside the likes of Savinho, Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish in what turned out to be a difficult campaign for the club across competitions.

Instead, the Colombian remained a key figure at Anfield as they won the Premier League before signing for Bayern Munich in the most recent summer window, while Manchester City placed faith in their younger generation of attackers.

Looking ahead, this story highlights just how seriously City guard their transfer dealings with Premier League competitors, with the most recent example seeing the club stand firm on retaining Savinho this summer despite big-money interest from Tottenham.