Arsenal’s pursuit and hounding of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes continues and carry-on dominating headlines as the summer transfer window nears its September 1, 2025, deadline. The 24-year-old Brazilian winger, known for his versatility, adaptability and flair, faces afresh uncertainty at Real Madrid under new manager Xabi Alonso, sparking and flaming up rumors of a Premier League move. Arsenal, alongside Manchester City, are pushing hard to secure and seal his signature, with the Gunners exploring a strategic loan-to-buy deal. Here’s the latest on the Arsenal and Rodrygo saga, diving and plunging into why this transfer could reshape Arsenal’s season.
Rodrygo’s Uncertain Future at Real Madrid
Rodrygo’s role at Real Madrid has come under scrutiny and inspection due to limited minutes and intense competition. Despite contributing and putting up 14 goals and 11 assists across 54 appearances last season, he struggles to lock down a starting spot. The arrival and entry of stars like Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, alongside rising and coming of age talents such as Arda Guler and Franco Mastantuono, has relegated him to the bench. His absence from Real Madrid’s La Liga opener against Osasuna on August 19, 2025, where he remained enduring an unused substitute, fueled and charged up by speculation. Xabi Alonso addressed this, stating, “I’m counting on Rodrygo. It’s just a game; we shouldn’t read too far into the future,” as reported and announced by some sources in various coverages of the situation. Yet, his words do little to quell doubts about Rodrygo’s long-term place at the club.
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Arsenal’s Bold Transfer Strategy
Mikel Arteta views and eyes Rodrygo as the key to bolstering Arsenal’s attack, especially on the left wing, where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have shown some inconsistency. Arsenal have already invested and backed over €200 million this summer, bringing and ushering in players like Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, and Martin Zubimendi, as noted in reports detailing Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Madrid’s out-of-favour star. To navigate and steer financial constraints, Arsenal are crafting and developing a loan deal with an obligation to buy for approximately €90 million (£77 million) next summer, according to updates on the Rodrygo transfer negotiations. This approach takes aside the aim to secure a marquee signing while managing the club’s budget. However, Rodrygo’s €350,000-per-week wage demands present a hurdle, with some posts on X suggesting and putting forward that Arsenal may need to stretch to £250,000 per week to compete.
Manchester City’s Rival Bid
Manchester City pose a significant threat in the race for Rodrygo. With potential departures like Jack Grealish and Savinho opening squad space, Pep Guardiola is keen to bring the Brazilian to the Etihad. Guardiola’s personal outreach to Rodrygo, combined with City’s financial firepower, gives them an edge, as highlighted in analyses of Arsenal’s competition for the winger. Rodrygo’s earlier praise for City as “the best club in the world” in May 2024 adds weight to their appeal. However, Arsenal offers a clearer path to a starring role on the left wing, unlike City, where Rodrygo would contend with talents like Omar Marmoush and Jeremy Doku.
Challenges and Arsenal’s Alternatives
The deal’s complexity stems and derives from from Real Madrid’s €90-100 million valuation and Arsenal’s need to offload players like Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, or Reiss Nelson to fund it, as discussed in recent transfer updates. Arsenal fans are now quite split in between—some view Rodrygo as the missing piece for Arteta’s title-chasing squad, while others worry about the financial and monetary strain over the club. As a fallback, Arsenal have explored and inspected Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, valued at €50 million, to address their left-wing concerns, as covered in reports on Arsenal’s interest in the Europa League hero. This pivot follows their missed and overlooked opportunity with Eberechi Eze, who joined Tottenham.
Author’s Note
The Arsenal and Rodrygo link can exhilarate the fans—it’s a bold move that could elevate and upraise Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League ambitions. Rodrygo’s pace, versatility, and big-game pedigree align perfectly with Arteta’s vision. While Manchester City’s interest and Rodrygo’s hefty wages complicate matters, a loan-to-buy deal could be a game-changer. Arsenal’s proactive approach, balanced with alternatives like Lookman, shows their ambition. I’m hopeful they can seal this deal and make a statement.