David Moyes is on course to repeat one of Manuel Pellegrini’s gaffes as West Ham United boss by signing Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to Sport, via Sport Witness, Real Madrid are moving to put Mariano in the shop window amid building interest from West Ham and AC Milan.

The Premier League and Serie A outfits are said to be monitoring the Dominican Republic striker’s situation, as Los Blancos chiefs have decided for once and for all that the 27-year-old is not who they need 26-months on from re-signing Mariano for £29.7million.

Zinedine Zidane handed Mariano rare starts in Real’s recent La Liga draw with Villarreal and 2-0 Champions League Group Stage win over Inter Milan to raise the striker’s profile ahead of the mid-season market.

Real had sought to sell Mariano this summer but saw their efforts fall short, as the striker rejected a potential move to SL Benfica as the Liga NOS giants could not match his demands for a €5m-a-year (£86k-p/w) contract.

Mariano, who earns €4.5m-a-year (£77.4k-p/w) at the Santiago Bernabeu, continues to have the final say on any potential transfer, but is beginning to warm to the idea of leaving as his future in the Spanish capital is seemingly determined regardless of his performances.

Zidane saw Mariano net just his sixth goal in 28 La Liga appearances when fielded at Villarreal last weekend, having overcome surgery for tonsillitis that saw him lose eight kilos.

Lucas Perez 2.0

While there is no doubt in Mariano’s resilience to fight for his Real Madrid future, despite seeing the number seven shirt torn away for Eden Hazard and almost being forced to accept a move to Benfica this summer, he would not offer a smart signing for West Ham in January.

The Hammers are said to have been offered his services on an initial loan, but Moyes will need a player capable of scoring more than once in a league season – something Mariano has only achieved once with Real Madrid when he netted three in the 2018/19 campaign.

Instead, by signing Mariano – who Lyon assistant boss Gerald Baticle previously described as “a real goalscorer” – Moyes would just be repeating Pellegrini’s mistake of signing Lucas Perez from Arsenal in 2018 and handing the forward an £80k-p/w contract.

The Spaniard had failed to hit any heights at the Emirates Stadium and left for east London after just seven goals in 21 games, a figure he failed to match in claret and blue with a mere six goals and 19 appearances to his name before being sold to Alaves after just one season.

AND in other news, West Ham must bite the bullet and get rid of a £40k-p/w “good character” facing an uncertain future.