Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Real Madrid outcast Mariano Diaz in a cut-price deal worth £18m, claims The Daily Mirror.
Madrid re-signed Mariano from Lyon 12 months ago in a deal worth £29.7m but he is already deemed surplus to requirements by manager Zinedine Zidane.
The Spanish giants signed highly rated Serbia international Luka Jovic for £50m this summer to provide competition up front with Karim Benzema.
Madrid are desperately trying to raise cash in order to afford a blockbuster move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Mariano is free to leave.
The 25-year-old, who is also heavily linked with a move to Roma, has been offered to Arsenal, who are desperately looking to bolster their offensive options.
Arsenal are working off a restricted budget this summer after missing out on Champions League qualification last season.
The Gunners have struggled to get deals over the line for Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Carrasco as a result but Mariano would come in within budget.
However, it remains to be seen whether Unai Emery will even consider Mariano’s arrival due to the fact his best position is as a striker.
Arsenal are already well stocked in that area with both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette and Emery really wants to sign an out-and-out winger.
Mariano was limited to just 13 league appearances for Madrid last season and only three of those came as starts. He still managed three goals despite a lack of playing time but the Madrid No.7 managed 18 league goals with Lyon the campaign before.
Of players that made at least 10 appearances in LaLiga last season, only Lionel Messi (5.6) managed more shots per 90 than Mariano (4.7).
