Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in a move for Real Madrid striker Mariano Díaz, in what could be bad news for Diego Costa.
According to sources in Spain, new head coach Julen Lopetegui is desperate to bring the Spaniard to Molineux as the club look to fire their way off the bottom of the league.
The 29-year-old has featured just five times for Real Madrid this season without providing a goal or assist according to Transfermarkt, so a move away from the Bernabeu could be on the cards in January.
However, the forward has a relationship with Lopetegui, having played for the Spanish giants during the current Wolves man’s time in charge in Madrid, and may fancy himself to get a good run in the side if he were to make the move to Molineux.
One player who may not be so convinced on Díaz’s potential move to Molineux could be that of experienced striker Diego Costa, who joined the side in September.
The 34-year-old has made just six appearances for the West Midlands outfit, being unable to provide a goal or assist, before getting sent off in a 1-1 draw at Brentford, meaning he missed the club’s final three fixtures ahead of the World Cup break.
Costa was likely grateful for the World Cup break in order to get himself fit and competing for the centre-forward spot with Raúl Jiménez after the break, but with the news that Díaz is a target for Lopetegui, the striker now may be looking over his shoulder heading into the second half of the season.
Furthermore, if the club were to get the signing of the Real Madrid man over the line, it would likely mean that once everyone is fit the club would have no need to keep Costa at the club, with Jiménez, Saša Kalajdžic, Fábio Silva, and the aforementioned Díaz likely to be ahead of the former Chelsea man in the club’s pecking order.
Therefore, we think that Costa will be gutted to hear the news that the club may be making a move for Díaz and will be hoping that it’s just speculation linked to Lopetegui’s recent arrival at Molineux.