Al-Hilal Tests Bayern Munich With €70m Opening Bid for Luis Diaz

By NationalSportsWeb News Desk

Al-Hilal SFC has submitted a €70m opening bid for Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz, the French sports daily L’Équipe reported on Monday. The offer, confirmed by multiple secondary sources, is the first formal move from the Saudi Pro League club for the Colombian international.

The bid arrives roughly one year after Bayern Munich paid Liverpool €75m to sign Diaz. The 29-year-old responded with a standout debut season: 26 goals and 23 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most productive attackers.

Key facts

Why the bid matters

The offer represents a serious test of Bayern’s resolve to keep a player who has been central to the team’s attack. L’Équipe describes the €70m figure as an “introductory” gesture meant to open negotiations. Al-Hilal, which has already signed several high-profile players in recent windows, is betting that the financial package and the allure of a new challenge could persuade Diaz to leave Munich.

Bayern’s financial situation complicates the decision. The club has already spent heavily this summer on Nathaniel Brown (from Eintracht Frankfurt) and Ismael Saibari (from PSV Eindhoven), leaving an estimated net transfer deficit of €68.7m. Selling Diaz for €70m would roughly erase that shortfall, but it would also leave the Bavarians without sufficient funds to sign a ready-made replacement in the current market.

The long-term succession plan

Bayern has identified 20-year-old Arijon Ibrahimovic, who returned from a loan spell at relegated Heidenheim, as Diaz’s eventual successor. The club’s coaching staff, however, considers Ibrahimovic to need another developmental loan before he can take on a starting role at the Allianz Arena. That timeline makes an immediate sale of Diaz difficult to justify unless the club can secure a loan or a low-cost stopgap option before the window closes on September 1.

Player’s potential motivations

The report notes that Diaz himself may be open to a move. The winger has not publicly commented on the bid, but the prospect of a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia, combined with the chance to experience a different league and culture, could influence his thinking. At 29, he is entering the peak phase of his career, and a multi-year deal in the Gulf would likely provide financial security beyond what Bayern can offer under current wage structures.

Bayern’s stance

Club officials in Munich have not issued a formal response to the bid. The general expectation among German football media is that Bayern will reject the offer unless it is substantially increased, given Diaz’s importance to the squad and the lack of an immediate replacement. The transfer window still has five weeks remaining, leaving room for Al-Hilal to return with a higher proposal.

What comes next

For now, the story remains in the negotiation phase. Al-Hilal’s opening bid establishes a starting point, but Bayern’s public position and the player’s own wishes will determine whether the Saudi club makes a second, more serious offer. Diaz’s camp has not signaled any discontent, but the financial gap between a potential Saudi deal and his current Bayern contract could become a factor if negotiations drag on.

Source: Yahoo Sports, citing L’Équipe. Original article at https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/saudi-club-submit-70m-opening-195500508.html