Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 1, 2020. Real Madrid's Mariano Diaz celebrates scoring.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ potential new manager Julen Lopetegui wants to make Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz his first signing, according to reports in the last 48 hours.
The Lowdown: Lopetegui back in Wolves talks
Fosun have been on the hunt to find Bruno Lage’s successor following his sacking last month, and despite former Sevilla boss Lopetegui initially turning down the opportunity to work at Molineux, he is now back in talks over a switch to the Premier League.
Indeed, the 56-year-old looks highly likely to be Wolves’ next manager, with Liam Keen stating that talks are “progressing well” and that the club “are hopeful of appointing him before the World Cup break”.
Diaz’s contract at the Bernabeu is set to expire at the end of the season, so the opportunity for a cut-price deal in January, or a free transfer next summer, could well be on the cards for the Old Gold.
The Latest: Wolves eyeing Diaz
According to Spanish reports on Wednesday (via Sport Witness), Wolves have already held negotiations with Lopetegui, who has identified Diaz as the ‘first signing’ he would want to secure at Molineux.
It’s claimed that the 56-year-old would ‘ask’ the Old Gold to make an approach for the forward in the winter market, having previously worked alongside him during his time in charge of Real Madrid in 2018.
The Verdict: Get it done…
Wolves could hold the advantage in the race for Diaz’s signature given his existing connection with Lopetegui; and having been hailed as a ‘real goalscorer’ by Lyon’s former assistant boss Gerald Baticle, this appears a no-brainer of a deal for the Old Gold to try and complete.
During his spell with the French giants, the 29-year-old scored 21 goals and provided six assists in just 48 outings, and he can offer a level of versatility, having also operated as a winger.
Should Wolves sign Diaz?
Yes
No
Diego Costa hasn’t had the impact at Molineux that supporters will have hoped for when he signed in September, but Diaz is prolific in the final third and could be the ideal target man for which Wolves have been crying out as the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers.
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