Arsenal will be delighted with the form shown by new signing Martin Zubimendi this pre-season.
Zubimendi signed for Arsenal this summer in a deal worth a reported £51m with the Gunners beating off competition from the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Mikel Arteta needed midfield reinforcements and Zubimendi has already shown he has the skillset to control games from deep, whilst surprising a few with his physicality so far.
It is now the attack that needs major surgery in the final few weeks of the window and Arsenal have now revealed they want to sign their top target for less than what they paid for their new Spanish midfielder.
Arsenal willing to pay up to £50m for Rodrygo
Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘Transfers Exposed’ podcast, journalist Jordan Davies has revealed that the Gunners are willing to pay up to £50m for Real Madrid star Rodrygo this summer.
Real Madrid have dropped their asking price for Rodrygo but Arsenal’s valuation is still well below what the Spanish giants are asking for their Brazilian winger.
Davies stated: “This is one that’s been rumbling on, and Arsenal are interested, but it’s just whether he actually wants to leave.
“There’s kind of murmurings of whether his agent’s kind of playing it a bit. Just to get a new deal at Madrid, or just to kind of convince Alonso to kind of put him in the team. And there’s a bit of that. And I think if a stupid bid came in, I think Real Madrid would do it.
“I think Arsenal would look at 40, 50, and then go on from there. If negotiations carried on, which if Real Madrid turn around and say, we want 70, 80 million, they may look elsewhere.”
Mikel Merino thinks Rodrygo is ‘exquisite’ and the pace and trickery he would bring to Arteta’s side would certainly help to solve some of their creative problems.
Arsenal are exploring a loan move for Rodrygo should they fail to come to an agreement on a permanent transfer but it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid are open to that.
Rodrygo represents good value in this summer’s transfer market
If Arsenal can negotiate a deal for Rodrygo in the region of £50-60m, it would represent incredible value given some of the signings made so far this window.
The Gunners themselves paid £52m for Noni Madueke, whilst the likes of Anthony Elanga have gone for £55m.
Rodrygo is a Champions League winner and has proven that he can perform in the biggest of matches on the biggest of stages.
Arteta knows there is little margin for error this season when it comes to lifting silverware and a player of Rodrygo’s ability would be a huge lift to his chances of ending that trophy drought.
from Arsenal Transfer News | Rumours, Deals & Targets | Arsenal Insider
George Light