Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he has spoken to Arsenal transfer target Rodrygo about his lack of game time.
The Brazilian has been an unused substitute in Real’s last two matches at the Club World Cup, and when asked about how the player has responded, Alonso replied:
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“I’m sure Rodrygo can return to his best form. I spoke with him; he’s positive, eager, and ready when needed.”
Real take on Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final on Saturday night and it will be interesting to see how many minutes Rodrygo gets.
Arsenal are plotting a move for Rodrygo after the tournament
Spanish publication AS claim that the Gunners are ready to make a “record-breaking” proposal for the 24-year-old.
It is believed that Mikel Arteta’s side are waiting until the Club World Cup is over to table a formal offer, which could be worth as much as €90m (£78m).
Rodrygo is said to be regarded as a “statement signing”, but he may be just one of four further additions that the club are hoping to make before the start of next season.
AS report that Arsenal plan to bring in Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko (or Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres), as well as Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
The cost of bringing those players to the Emirates could be as much as £224m but it would correlate with what Arteta said at the end of last campaign, when he made a point of saying it would be a “big summer” in the transfer market.
Rodrygo would be the most expensive of the four but it remains to be seen how negotiations will go. By the looks of things, we will find out more later this month.
In other news, we list every player who has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal this week