Arsenal given encouragement on £70m Real Madrid transfer to solve problem position

Arsenal’s pursuit of a new wide forward continues, with Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta still looking to push ahead with a move for a new left-sided option.

The Gunners fell short in their pursuit of the Premier League title last term, finishing 10 points behind champions Liverpool and failing to match their own total of the previous year. Arsenal finished on 74 points, 15 points less than in the 2023-24 campaign, with their inefficiencies in attack ultimately proving their downfall.

Arteta’s men scored 22 goals less across their 38 games last term than they managed the previous year. And while they only lost the same amount of games as Arne Slot's men, 14 draws - five more than the Merseysiders’ - ultimately proved costly.

Losing Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka didn’t help, with Mikel Merino forced into emergency action as a striker. Thus, beefing up their attacking ranks this summer is a must. The club consensus is that a new No.9 is required. Back up striker Eddie Nketiah was sold to Crystal Palace last summer and not replaced, something which, looking back, was perhaps a mistake.

As such, Berta has been working on deals for both RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres simultaneously - with the hope of signing one to rival Havertz as the side’s attacking focal point. Sesko has been the top choice, but Gyokeres remains very much in the mix - to the extent that, it’s believed, club bosses are now ready to do a deal for either, provided it fits what Arsenal believe is fair value.

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The Gunners have also been pushing to chase an elite level left winger. They have Saka on the right, but Gabriel Martinelli has scored less league goals in the past two seasons than he did in the 2022-23 campaign, and Arteta believes the time is right to upgrade on the Brazilian. Cashing in on the 24-year-old later in the summer, amid interest from Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabia, is not out of the question.

Nico Williams has been a major target for the Gunners, but the Spain winger looks increasingly likely to join Barcelona. They are his desired choice and the Spanish champions pushing to get a deal done - although his club, Athletic Bilbao, want his release clause paid. Eberechi Eze is on their radar too, but they're aware he prefers to operate centrally, and that Crystal Palace want his £68m release clause paid as per the terms of his contract.

But the North London club have also been keeping close tabs on Real Madrid's Rodrygo - and will be increasingly emboldened that a deal can be done.

The Brazil international would cost in the region of £70million and his wage demands would make him one of Arsenal’s top earners. There’s no doubt he’s an ambitious target.

But similar to Mesut Ozil 12 year ago, who became the club’s then-record signing when he moved from the Bernabeu to the Emirates, Rodrygo is being cast aside in Madrid. And both the 15-time Champions League winners, and the player himself, may well be open to a parting of ways.

A long-time starter under Carlo Ancelotti, the Club World Cup has shown that Rodrygo is anything but guaranteed a place under Xabi Alonso. The new Madrid boss is trying new systems as he looks to make his mark, chopping and changing between 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 3-4-2-1 in America during the early days of his tenure. But increasingly, and even despite Kylian Mbappe’s health issues, Rodrygo has largely become a bystander in the US.

He has not started since the opening match against Al Hilal, when he was substituted in the 65th minute. Left on the bench against Pachuca, he got just over 20 minutes against Salzburg before being left on the bench throughout the last 16 win over Juventus on Tuesday night.

With Alonso looking for Madrid to live less off moments and more on consistent dominance than his predecessor, Rodrygo increasingly looks like being the fall guy.

The Spaniard has decided that he cannot create a side that adheres to his principles while all four of Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are all on the pitch. He’s added Arda Guler into midfield, the Turkey international the heir apparent to Luke Modric to give the side more control alongside Fede Valverde, back in his best position after spending much of last term at full-back. Then there is also the arrival of River Plate sensation Franco Mastantuono to consider.

Alonso has thus far been very diplomatic over Rodrygo’s role at the club, insisting “he will be an important player”. But the proof on the field has very much suggested otherwise and there's an awareness that his comments always seem to point towards a future that doesn't look like arriving.

The player’s camp are becoming increasingly aware that his days in Madrid could be numbered. But they are willing to see how things progress during the summer and don't want to jump too soon.

Arsenal too are willing to play a waiting game. But their chances of an ambitious move and persuading Rodrygo to head to the Premier League and fill the left-sided spot they want to upgrade on, are increasing.

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