Arsenal offered £18m deal for Real Madrid misfit Mariano Diaz

ARSENAL have been offered the chance to sign Real Madrid misfit Mariano Diaz.

Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk

A centre forward who plays for the Dominican Republic, Diaz is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu.

And the Gunners have been sounded out about taking the 25-year-old for a cut-price £18m.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has limited transfer funds available this summer after missing out on the Champions League.

But the Gunners are down a forward since allowing Danny Welbeck to leave the club.

Emery is closing in on a £27m deal to sign St Etienne defender William Saliba but that fee is set to be paid in instalments with the player loaned back to his club.

The Arsenal boss is also chasing another defender, full back and winger and may have to make use of the loan market to get deals done.

But having made an approach to Real for Lucas Vazquez as a possible option to fill the requirement for a wide man, the opportunity to sign Diaz has now presented itself.

He still has four years left on his contract with the Spanish giants but they need to sell after spending big this summer.

Arsenal offered £18m deal for Real Madrid misfit Mariano Diaz
Arsenal have been offered Real Madrid misfit Mariano Diaz (Pic: GETTY)

And Diaz, who made 13 appearances in La Liga last season, scoring three times, is one of several players told they can leave to help balance the books.

Diaz was linked with Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham recently but they have other priorities.

It remains to be seen whether Emery would have any interest in the player but it is understood the opportunity to sign him was not dismissed out of hand.

Arsenal are still weighing up whether to make an improved bid for Wilfried Zaha in the face of fierce resistance from Crystal Palace.

And they remain in the hunt for £25m-rated Celtic full back Chris Tierney despite the Scottish champions knocking back two bids.

But Emery knows he needs to sell players to make room in his squad and boost his transfer kitty.