Arsenal face a potentially tricky start to the new Premier League season, with games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United inside the first six rounds of matches.
The Gunners travel north to face Manchester United on the opening weekend of the new campaign, and manager Mikel Arteta will be desperate to see his side get off to a strong start against one of their fiercest rivals.
The North London outfit have only added goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arteta’s squad so far this summer, but it appears that could soon change.
According to TBR Football, the Gunners are in a strong position to land Real Madrid star Rodrygo this summer.
The report claims that Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, has been in regular communication with the winger’s representatives for much of the summer so far.
Rodrygo, 24, is one of the biggest stars in Xabi Alonso’s side but has fallen somewhat out of favour over the last year or so, and the report suggests that he could be open to the idea of leaving the Spanish capital.
Rodrygo could leave Real Madrid this summer (Photo: Foto Arena LTDA/Alamy)
Having joined Real from Brazilian side Santos in 2019, Rodrygo has now scored 68 goals in 269 games for the Spanish giants.
Berta is said to be of the view that Arsenal could afford to sign the Brazil international, despite the huge sums likely required to lure the player to the capital.
German side Bayern Munich are also said to be interested in the winger – who will cost in the region of £70-75 million – but the report claims that Arsenal are currently in pole position in the race to sign the player.
It is also claimed that Rodrygo is set to inform Real Madrid of his desire to leave the club once he returns from the FIFA Club World Cup, which is currently taking place in the United States.