Real Madrid are always looking to make signings and, as a result, have become one of the biggest buying clubs in world football.
While sources claim that the club’s January will be silent, there is still some news available to the public on potential departures and arrivals and here are two of the latest.
West Ham want Mariano Diaz
West Ham United have reportedly entered the race to sign Mariano Diaz to bolster their attack as the 2021/22 Premier League season gets into its busiest period.
El Nacional claim that the 28-year-old, who is also on the radars of Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla is a key January target for the Hammers who are currently fifth in the league and looking to break into the top four for the first time in decades.
Mariano has not had the return he envisaged when he signed for Real Madrid for a second stint in 2018. The Dominican famously took Cristiano Ronaldo’s number 7 jersey on his return after the departure of Los Blancos’ all time leading goalscorer for Juventus.
Mariano left Real Madrid for Olympique Lyonnais in 2017 after six years of almost no opportunities to showcase his talents. In one season, he convinced Los Blancos to sign him again.
After a good start in his second stint, he has since gone back to being a peripheral player and has even had the number 7 jersey which he demanded on his re-signing taken from him and given to Eden Hazard, another whose future at the Santiago Bernabeu is in doubt.
West Ham, however, will have to contend with Sevilla who have reportedly made proactive moves for Mariano’s signature and have gotten a response from Madrid.
The reports also state that Madrid are demanding €20 million for the striker.
If he leaves in January, Mariano will have made only 65 appearances for Los Blancos in his two spells and have scored 11 goals in total.
Madrid to battle Manchester City for new Brazilian talent
“New talent” does not quite describe Weslley Patati, who is already a phenomenon in Brazil.
Patati is yet to make his senior debut for Santos, yet the club values the 18-year-old at €100 million, which is a clear indication of his talents and the caliber of clubs looking into prying the youngster away from Brazil to Europe.
Real Madrid are the latest club to join the race for Patati and along with Premier League giants Manchester City, are the only clubs with the financial muscle to negotiate any sort of deal for the forward.
Spanish outlet Defensa Central reports that both clubs are currently vying for Patati who has a €100 million release clause in his contract with Santos.
Madrid seem to have the upper hand, however, as Patati has revealed in the past that he wishes to emulate another Santos-trained Brazilian starlet, Rodrygo Goes, in joining Real Madrid.
Rodrygo, 20, joined Los Blancos in 2019 as an 18-year old for €45 million and has impressed in his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It remains to be seen if the Spanish giants would be willing to pay €100 million to Santos for Patati, however.
