Madrid

The latest injury suffered by Mariano Díaz looks to have increased the likelihood that Real Madrid will seek to add to their striking options in January.

Mariano out injured for a third time this season

Madrid confirmed on Monday that Mariano "has been diagnosed with an irritation of the sciatic nerve", a complaint that is set to sideline him for two weeks, and which has come about just as the 25-year-old was returning from a muscle strain picked up in the Copa del Rey win over Melilla in early December.

It is the third time already that the centre-forward has been ruled out by injury this season - once again leaving Karim Benzema as the only out-and-out striker available to the European champions.

Icardi, Werner the chief Real Madrid targets

In a bid to boost their squad depth up front, Madrid re-signed Mariano from Lyon late on in the summer transfer window, but he has so far managed one goal in just 502 minutes of first-team action. At the time, the LaLiga giants also had other names on their radar, and have now been forced to turn their attentions back to them - particularly Mauro Icardi and Timo Werner.

Icardi, 25, is fresh from the disappointment of Champions League group-stage elimination with Inter Milan, has a 110m-euro release clause - and, despite recent claims in Gazzetta dello Sport, is not preparing to renew his Nerazzurri contract this month, wife and agent Wanda Nara has insisted.

Werner, meanwhile, appears to be moving closer and closer to a departure from current club RB Leipzig. The Germany international, 22, is valued by the specialist website Transfermarkt.com at 65m euros.