The Real Madrid striker has been linked with a summer switch to Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Lyon are in talks to sign Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz this summer, with one potential solution seeing the French side pay £8.7million for 60 per cent of the player’s rights, and if that is the case, alleged suitors Tottenham Hotspur would be wise to steer well clear.
A recent story from Diario Madridista claimed Spurs were interested in signing the 23-year-old fringe striker this summer, with Diaz keen to move to North London and work with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.
On the face of it, everything made sense, with Diaz needing game time, Tottenham seeking an additional striker and a 13.1million price tag making a deal possible.
Unfortunately for Tottenham, Real were insisting on a buy-back clause, and while that is still an option for Lyon, it seems the Ligue 1 club could strike an alternative deal that sees them take the forward for considerably less but only own 40 per cent of his rights, leaving Real in the box seat for any future move back to the Bernabeu or elsewhere.
When you start factoring in such complications, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was never going to get involved and on this occasion, it seems that even if the player does admire Pochettino, he will not be working with him any time soon.
Tottenham will want to sign players outright and for the long term, ensuring that if they do ultimately sell them on, it will be on their own terms and for a considerable profit. The alternative is a complicated transfer that could be out of their hands, Real using their increased stake to do whatever they want with the 23-year-old, leaving Spurs at a disadvantage in the process.
Tottenham need a player like Diaz – young, prolific and desperate for minutes. Unfortunately it seems that Diaz himself is no longer an option.
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