According to AS, Tottenham Hotspur is listed among the potential destination for Mariano Diaz next season. The Real Madrid striker is facing an uncertain future at the club, and a move away from the Bernabeu could be on the cards this summer. However, any deal would likely involve a loan move.
AS Roma have explored the possibility of signing Diaz, but the report claims that Spurs are another option as Los Blancos look to resolve his future next season.
Mariano Diaz’s not so impressive return at the Bernabeu
A former member of the RM Castilla side, Diaz initially returned to Real Madrid last summer following a remarkable campaign at Olympique Lyon the season before. He arrived for a fee of €21.5 million and was shockingly given the number seven shirt previously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo.
But, the Dominican forward did very little to live up to that jersey, featuring in just 13 league matches. Injuries played a key role in stalling his progress at the Bernabeu, with the 25-year-old suffering from a muscular and later a groin problem. As a result, he ended up mustering only 438 minutes of league football, during which he scored just three goals.
And with Los Blancos roping in the likes of Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard this summer, Diaz’s chances of making it to the Real Madrid first team next season are close to none.
What can Diaz bring to the table?
Diaz is a sturdy attacker, who relies on his imposing physical presence to outmuscle opposing defenders. It also allows him to keep hold of the ball under strong pressure while his pace makes him a genuine threat on the counter. He is not one of the most gifted attackers when it comes to the technical aspect of the game.
But, the Dominican international can make up for it with physical and aerial prowess that makes him a scourge for the defenders inside the box.
Where does Diaz fit in at Tottenham?
Any centre-forward Tottenham sign is not expected to dethrone Harry Kane as the number one striker. That means although Diaz could be an excellent backup for Kane for Tottenham, a move to North London may not necessarily be a logical move from the player’s perspective as he’ll mostly spend his time warming the bench.
At this stage of his career, Diaz needs to find regular game-time and Tottenham won’t be able to offer that. And this, in turn, could potentially weaken Spurs’ pursuit of the Real Madrid forward as his future at the Bernabeu continues to hang in the balance.
