Hilal push Bayern for Luis Diaz with huge salary offer in potential record Saudi move

Al Hilal have stepped up their efforts to sign Luis Diaz from Bayern Munich, putting a massive salary package on the table for the Colombia winger as they seek to complete one of the biggest deals of the summer window.

The Saudi Pro League champions are continuing to apply “strong pressure” on Bayern in a bid to secure Diaz, according to well-known Saudi journalist Abdulaziz Al-Muraisel, with Hilal viewing the 27-year-old as a priority target to strengthen their attack before the new season.

Reports in Saudi Arabia say Hilal are prepared to pay around $120m (£93m) to buy out the player’s contract – a fee that would place the deal among the most expensive in the history of the Saudi Pro League, currently branded as the Roshn Saudi League.

Bayern reluctant to sell

Al-Muraisel reports that Hilal’s negotiator has been in intensive contact with Bayern’s hierarchy in recent hours, trying to persuade the German club to accept a sale.

However, Bayern are said to remain determined to keep Diaz and have so far refused to entertain the idea of letting him leave. Their stance has been reinforced by a parallel decision to reject offers for France winger Michael Olise, underlining the club’s desire to retain its key wide players.

In an attempt to force a conclusion, Hilal have reportedly given Bayern a final deadline to consider the proposal, asking for a definitive answer within this week. The Riyadh club want clarity on the foreign winger position before moving ahead with the rest of their transfer business.

Salary that is “hard to resist”

Hilal are not relying solely on the transfer fee to win the race. They have also prepared what is described as a huge personal offer for Diaz himself.

The Colombia international is expected to be offered an annual salary in excess of €37m (£31m), a figure that would place him among the highest-paid players in world football and is being portrayed in Saudi media as an offer that would be “hard to resist” should Bayern agree to open formal negotiations.

At this stage, though, the situation hinges entirely on the German club’s position, with no indication yet that Bayern have shifted from their initial refusal to sell.

Inzaghi’s key attacking target

Diaz has been identified as one of Al Hilal’s leading attacking targets for this window after new head coach Simone Inzaghi requested the addition of a world-class winger this summer.

The Italian, who has taken charge of the team as they prepare to defend their domestic title and challenge in continental competition, is understood to see the left-sided forward role as a priority area for reinforcement.

Hilal’s hierarchy are keen to satisfy those demands and complete the foreign winger signing before turning to other parts of the squad during the remainder of the transfer period.

For now, the final decision rests with Bayern Munich, who have yet to make a conclusive call on Diaz’s future and whose response to Hilal’s deadline is expected to determine whether one of the headline transfers of the Saudi summer can progress.