Arsenal to bid for Fabricio Diaz?

Arsenal are weighing up a transfer bid for Uruguay under-20 international Fabricio Diaz, who currently plays his football with Al-Gharafa in Qatar. The 21-year-old has caught the eye in the Middle East having made a surprise move there from his ex-club Liverpool Montevideo in his homeland.

The Gunners moved to sign Declan Rice last season having lost Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen, but with uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of Thomas Partey, Arsenal are looking to sign another central midfielder and Diaz has caught the eye of the North London club's director of football, Edu.

Al-Gharafa would agree to sell the player for a fee of around £20 million, representing good value for Arsenal, who have made signing another midfielder their priority this summer. Emile Smith-Rowe could depart the club for either Fulham or Crystal Palace, and Mohamed Elneny has already left on a free transfer. Arsenal are short in the midfield department, and ideally would prefer a player that can operate in a defensive and offensive role. Thus the club are readying an initial bid for the hot prospect Diaz.

In 2023, Barcelona and Brighton and Hove Albion were both linked with the La Paz-born player, but ultimately a five-year deal was signed with his Qatari club.