Liverpool's No. 7 shirt number options as Luis Diaz exit could force reshuffle

Liverpool could make significant changes to their squad numbers this summer after a busy transfer window. Luis Diaz has completed his £65million move to Bayern Munich, meaning the club’s No. 7 shirt is now available.

The Reds have opted to splash the cash this summer after clinching the Premier League title last season. Liverpool snapped up Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz in a deal that could be worth up to a British record £116m.

The signings of Hugo Ekitike, full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, plus goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman, mean there are plenty of new faces in the dressing room. This also gives Liverpool several options to inherit Diaz’s No. 7 shirt, which is closely associated with club legend Kenny Dalglish.

READ MORE: Luis Diaz saves special mention in Liverpool exit statement as transfer compliment paid

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Wirtz stands out as one possibility to be named Liverpool’s new No. 7. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder wore the No. 10 in his final two seasons at Leverkusen, having previously donned No. 27 after stepping up from the club’s academy.

Alexis Mac Allister currently wears No. 10 for Liverpool, meaning Wirtz could be given Diaz’s old number instead. Alternatively, Mac Allister could be forced to give up his shirt number to Wirtz, making him a candidate to wear No. 7.

Fellow new signing Ekitike is another possibility following his £79m move from Eintracht Frankfurt, particularly as the French star is arguably Diaz’s replacement in Arne Slot’s squad. The versatile forward has worn various squad numbers throughout his relatively short career, but was most recently No. 11 during his time in Germany.

Liverpool are not done with their transfer business as the club are interested in £150m-rated Alexander Isak. The striker currently wears No. 14 for Newcastle United, but may choose to switch it up if he does complete a move to Anfield.

Other options within the Liverpool squad to take Diaz’s old number are Cody Gakpo (No. 18), Harvey Elliott (No. 19), Curtis Jones (No. 17) and Federico Chiesa (No. 14). A further reshuffle could occur if Darwin Nunez (No. 9) also leaves the club this summer.

Fortunately, some of Liverpool’s other new signings do not face a fight for their preferred shirt numbers. Right-back Frimpong can claim the No. 30 he has worn since his Celtic days.

Former Valencia goalkeeper Mamardashvili also finds his preferred No. 25 shirt available after arriving to compete with Alisson Becker. Meanwhile, fellow goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has worn No. 27 or No. 41 in the past, neither of which is currently taken.

Kerkez was previously Bournemouth’s No. 3, which he also wore during his time in AC Milan’s academy, but that number belongs to Wataru Endo at Liverpool. While the transfer window is ongoing, the club have assigned each of their new signings with temporary squad numbers ranging from No. 54 to No. 59.

Former Liverpool No. 7 Diaz posted a heartfelt message on social media upon leaving Liverpool. The 28-year-old was signed from Porto in January 2022.

"Three years and a half that I’ll treasure forever. I arrived with all the dreams in the world, and I am leaving proud of everything we achieved together,” he wrote. “I have met incredible people, fabulous colleagues, coaches who helped me a lot, and extraordinary fans.

"Liverpool is, indeed, a special team, and I will keep everyone in my heart. The cycle ends here, and it is so gratifying to look back and realise how happy we were. Not only because of the trophies we won, but for the union and friendship that made it all possible. There were ups and downs, as there always are, but there was always truth. As it should be in a family.

"It’s good to be leaving with the feeling of a duty fulfilled, and, most of all, to be leaving a champion. It would have been the perfect goodbye if we hadn’t lost one of ours in such a tragic way. As I said, and I repeat, I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo. I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything."

With the Community Shield less than a fortnight away, as Liverpool take on Crystal Palace on Sunday, August 10 at Wembley, there is not long to go before final decisions on shirt numbers need to be made ahead of the new season.

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