90min

Real Madrid Willing to Loan Mariano Diaz to West Ham United

By Grey Whitebloom

Mariano Diaz has struggled for playing opportunities since returning to Real Madrid
Mariano Diaz has struggled for playing opportunities since returning to Real Madrid / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
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Real Madrid have offered out-of-favour striker Mariano Diaz to West Ham United, one of multiple attacking options the Premier League side have been linked with to bolster their attack ahead of the January transfer window.

Diaz, having come through Real Madrid's youth teams, is in his second spell in the Spanish capital after a productive season leading the line for French side Lyon in 2017/18. However, the 27-year-old has been afforded less than an hour of La Liga football since August 2019.

Diaz has started just three La Liga games since returning to Real Madrid in the summer of 2018
Diaz has started just three La Liga games since returning to Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Despite his lack of opportunities, Diaz found his way onto the scoresheet in Madrid's 2-0 win against Barcelona last March. Yet, the Dominican Republic international is thought to have a difficult relationship with Madrid's manager Zinedine Zidane, with some reports suggesting he is one of several players on the Frenchman's 'black list'.

Given this supposedly frosty relationship and his lack of game-time, Madrid have offered West Ham the chance to sign Diaz on loan this January, according to the Daily Mail. The report claims Diaz rebuffed the advances of fellow Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in the summer given their status as a newly-promoted side, but could make a move to the east London outfit in the upcoming window.

The Spanish publication Defensa Central supports the links between West Ham and Diaz but also suggests that Luka Jovic - another Real Madrid striker lacking any significant playing time - may be available on loan as well.

Luka Jovic joined Real Madrid for £54m in the summer of 2019 but has only scored two goals for the club across all competitions
Luka Jovic joined Real Madrid for £54m in the summer of 2019 but has only scored two goals for the club across all competitions / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

The links between West Ham and misfit forwards don't end there. The former Leicester City attacker Ahmed Musa is supposedly keen to return to the Premier League, with West Ham one of several clubs touted as a possible destination by TEAMtalk.

The 28-year-old Nigeria international is a free agent after parting ways with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in October and his representatives are thought to have approached Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, Burnley and Sheffield United, alongside the Hammers, in a bid to secure a new club.