The Gunners are very close to signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos after snatching him from under rivals Tottenham’s noses.
Arsenal fans might be in for some good news after all as the Gunners close in on their first important signing of the season. According to The Sun, Arsenal are very close to signing Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan. Thus they will beat North London rivals Tottenham to his signing.
Ceballos has attracted widespread interest from the Premier League. He was thought to be close to signing for Tottenham, but the tables have turned in this saga. The midfielder has reportedly agreed to move to Spurs’ rivals Arsenal for next season, as he does not wish to leave Real Madrid permanently just yet.
Ceballos, signed in the summer of 2017 from Real Betis, was primed for bigger things but has so far been denied the right opportunity with Real Madrid. Additionally, Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is not particularly a big fan of the midfielder and would be ready to take his chances of playing out the season without his services.
He recently was named the player of the tournament as the Spanish U-21 side lifted the European Championships. This has led Madrid to slap a massive €50 million price tag on the midfielder, something that Arsenal cannot afford for the time being, but certainly in the range of Tottenham. Madrid also reportedly offered £45 million plus Ceballos to Tottenham for Christian Eriksen, but it never worked out.
Earlier this month, Ceballos suggested a temporary move might be on the cards as he would like to prove Madrid, he could be an asset for the future. He said, “I don’t want them [Real Madrid] to sell me. But I want to enjoy myself and feel important, wherever that may be.”
Taking that into account, Unai Emery stepped up his chase for the midfielder and is thought to have played a significant role in convincing Ceballos to switch to the Emirates rather than Spurs. Arsenal are set to complete a loan deal for the 22-year-old midfielder in the coming days and are said to be ‘one step away’ from sealing the deal.
Arsenal require a player with the profile of Ceballos as they look to replace Aaron Ramsey who joined Juventus on a free transfer. They had identified Ceballos earlier but were put off by his €50 million price tag.
Now the Gunners could be set to beat Tottenham for his signature, although Spurs were keen on a permanent move. Tottenham have already made the headline signing of Tanguy Ndombele earlier in the window and were looking to add more quality by way of Ceballos.
The loan offer could have played the deal in Arsenal’s favour, as Ceballos seeks regular playing time but does not want Madrid to sell him. Last season, under different managers, Ceballos managed 34 appearances in all competitions, but under Zidane next term, that may not be the case.
Overall, the loan arrangement might suit both Arsenal and Ceballos. The Gunners require short term fix without spending too much money. They might find Ceballos as the perfect player to boost their chances for next season. As for Ceballos, it would be an excellent chance to prove his worth to Madrid.
