Arsenal could be offered the chance to sign one Real Madrid star in a potential swap deal this summer, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta remaining attentive to opportunities in the market.
Mikel Arteta has already splashed over £200 million on the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the latter making his first ever start for Arsenal in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Villarreal on Wednesday.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) Money on new signings
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19/20 - winter £0
20/21 - summer £81.5m
20/21 - winter £900k
21/22 - summer £156.8m
21/22 - winter £1.8m
22/23 - summer £121.5m
22/23 - winter £59m
23/24 - summer £208m
23/24 - winter £0
24/25 - summer £101.5m
24/25 - winter £0
25/26 - summer £208m
Former £72 million Gunners flop Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring for Marcelino's side at the Emirates, and while Gyokeres couldn't bag his first goal in Arsenal colours, fellow summer signing Norgaard did manage to get on the scoresheet.
"We already broke that line today because I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team," said Arteta about Gyokeres' performance.
"He's been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces. So in general, for a lot of players that haven't played many minutes, we have a lot now that they're going to be ready for Saturday in a much better condition."
Arsenal face Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season game of the summer on Saturday before taking on Manchester United in their opening Premier League fixture of the new campaign, so time is running out for Berta to make any more new additions to the squad.
Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze and his representatives remain in contact with Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano), and Berta is expected to lodge a formal bid for the England international fairly soon.
Arsenal-Eze (1)
In recent weeks, it's been reliably reported that Arsenal are still eyeing up a few wide options alongside Eze (talkSPORT).
One of their potential targets in this regard is £209,000-per-week Real star Rodrygo, who faces an uncertain future at the Bernabeu under Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid prepared to offer Rodrygo in Arsenal swap deal for Saliba
Arsenal were repeatedly linked with a move for the Brazil international earlier this summer and talks were held at one point (Florian Plettenberg), with that fondness for the player apparently remaining even after their deal for fellow winger Madueke.
According to Defensa Central, Alonso's side are prepared to offer Arteta the chance to sign him in a late-window deal.
Arsenal-Rodrygo
As per their information, Real are willing to exchange Rodrygo in a swap deal for Arsenal defender William Saliba, but it is very unclear whether the north Londoners would be open to that.
Saliba is one of their most important players, having formed an unbreakable partnership with Gabriel since the start of 2022/2023, and it is reliably reported that the France international is in talks over an extension.
Given Arsenal already boast a plethora of impressive attacking options and are actively pursuing Eze, losing Saliba for Rodrygo really doesn't feel like it would be worth it - despite the 24-year-old's obvious quality.
Finding a replacement for Saliba would be an almighty task at this stage of the window, so Berta is very unlikely to even entertain this one at best.