Arteta could look to strengthen further in the summerplaceholder image
Arteta could look to strengthen further in the summer | Getty Images
Arsenal could well circle back for a top-class winger if he becomes available, as suggested.
Arsenal will have been put on alert amid the potential availability of a player they have been linked with in the past. The Gunners spent big again in the summer, racking up a spending bill of more than £200million to add serious depth to their squad.
Arsenal still have plenty of work to do, with City likely to push hard for the title in the second half of the season, but this season, Arteta can have no excuses given the money spent and the depth he has at his disposal.
January spending does not seem likely for Arsenal, at least unless there is an unexpected exit, with the Gunners likely needing to be careful with their spending given what they have spent over recent years. But more signings are always likely in any given summer window as top clubs like Arsenal look to keep the bar high.
One player Arsenal could circle back for is Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who was regularly linked with a move to North London in the summer. Arsenal ultimately signed Noni Madueke, with Rodrygo never really becoming available. But that could change in the near future.
Rodrygo could put Arsenal on alert
According to a fresh report from Diario Sport, Rodrygo is now actively pushing for a Real Madrid exit. It’s claimed the winger is even speaking to new agents in a bid to speed up a potential exit having only started 11 La Liga games so far this season.
Arsenal could well turn to Rodrygo to add even more competition out wide, especially with talk Gabriel Martinelli could be sacrificed in the coming months. Although, with the Rodrygo deal not likely to be a cheap one, the Gunners would need the Brazilian to hold on until the summer, which seems more likely anyway given the finances that would be required to pull off a deal.
Back in August, Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso was quizzed over leaving Rodrygo on the bench, and he responded: "It was only a match. If in three months he still isn't getting these minutes, then it's different. Nothing's going on. The Club World Cup was a different context because of the competition that it was. But this was just one game. I think we can leave the Club World Cup behind us and what really counts is this season. And of course I count on Rodrygo. It's just one game, we don't have to read too much in the future.
"If he has those [lack of] minutes in three months, then I can tell you with more certainty. But, today was the circumstances of the match and my decisions [not to play him]."
Rodrygo has featured regularly since then, but not always as a starter, and the links involving the Brazilian just won’t go away. The two-time Champions League winner will be in-demand if he does become available, and it may come down to who has the finances to pull off a deal for the 24-year-old.
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