Al-Hilal’s pursuit of attacking talent
Al-Hilal, a prominent club in the Saudi Pro League, is reportedly seeking to strengthen its attacking lineup further, even after securing the services of Dutch player Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United. Summerville’s transfer involved a fee exceeding €70 million, marking one of the most substantial deals in the history of the Saudi Roshn League. The club’s ambition extends to adding more high-profile offensive players, with Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz identified as a primary target.
According to reports, Al-Hilal views Diaz as a “dream option” and has placed him at the top of their acquisition list for the summer. The club is said to be looking for a wide player who can bring enhanced power and pace, aligning with the strategic vision of their new Italian coach, Simone Inzaghi.
Negotiations and financial proposals
Reports from transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri indicate that discussions have commenced between Al-Hilal and Diaz’s representatives. A significant detail emerging from these reports is that Richard Hughes is reportedly leading these negotiations. Hughes is currently the sporting director for Liverpool, but he is understood to be nearing a move to Al-Hilal, expected to materialize after the current summer transfer window concludes in early September.
Al-Hilal is reportedly prepared to offer Diaz a substantial net salary, estimated to be around €25 million per year. To entice Bayern Munich into a sale, Al-Hilal is reportedly willing to allocate between €120 million and €150 million from their total transfer budget of €350 million for this summer. However, there has been no direct contact between Al-Hilal and Bayern Munich regarding Diaz, with the Saudi club intending to approach the German champions only after reaching an agreement with the player.
Diaz’s situation at Bayern Munich
Despite the lucrative offer from Al-Hilal, the prospect of Diaz moving to Saudi Arabia is considered unlikely by some. The Colombia international, who is 29 years old, is currently in what is described as the prime of his career. He recently completed an impressive first season with Bayern Munich, establishing himself as a key figure in one of the world’s top teams. Diaz’s contract with Bayern Munich runs until 2029.
During his first season with Bayern Munich, Diaz recorded 26 goals and 23 assists in 51 appearances. He joined the Bavarian capital club last summer after spending three and a half years at Liverpool. Bayern Munich acquired Diaz from Liverpool in 2025 for a transfer fee of €70 million. His contributions in attack and his work rate off the ball make him an integral part of coach Vincent Kompany’s setup.
While a transfer fee of up to €150 million could prompt Bayern Munich to consider a sale, the club would then face the challenge of finding an adequate replacement, which would likely come at a significant cost. Diaz was recently absent from the start of training at Säbener Strasse due to his World Cup holiday and also missed the first friendly match against Wehen Wiesbaden. He is expected to begin preparations for the upcoming season when the Asia tour commences on August 1.
Previous transfer pursuits and connections
Al-Hilal’s interest in high-profile attackers is not new. The club previously explored the possibility of signing English striker Harry Kane, engaging in talks during his contract renewal discussions. However, that pursuit did not materialize as Kane opted to remain in Europe.
The reported involvement of Richard Hughes in the negotiations for Diaz adds another layer to the story. Hughes and Diaz previously overlapped during a brief period at Liverpool, with Hughes taking up his sporting director role in the summer of 2024, a year before Diaz moved to Bayern Munich. Hughes’s reported involvement in major assignments for his prospective new club, Al-Hilal, before his official departure from Liverpool is noted.
The Saudi club’s recent history of securing significant deals suggests that another high-profile transfer, despite the challenges, cannot be entirely ruled out. Diaz’s strong performance in the Bundesliga, alongside players like Harry Kane and Michael Olise, highlights his value to Bayern Munich.
Diaz was part of the Colombia squad that was eliminated by Switzerland in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on penalties.
Source: goal.com
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