Versatile Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, with the Spanish giants open to a sale.
According to a report from Catalan publication El Nacional, Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez is considering leaving the club after having fallen down the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti, with Arsenal registering an interest in signing him up.
Vazquez, who came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid, has been around the first-team picture since 2015. While he has never been the flashiest of players, the Spaniard has made his fair share of valuable contributions to the team’s success over the years. To date, he has made 256 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 27 goals and setting up 54 more.
Primarily a right-sided winger, Vazquez has been used as a makeshift right-back quite regularly over the past couple of seasons due to the injury problems plaguing Dani Carvajal. And the 30-year-old has done a solid job in an unfamiliar role. However, his game-time has taken a massive hit under current manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Vazquez was poised to leave Real Madrid this past summer with his contract expiring. However, the club convinced him to sign an extension with the promise of a regular berth in the side. But that has not been the case as Ancelotti has not relied upon him as much this term, handing him just six La Liga starts.
Dani Carvajal and Nacho Fernandez are ahead of him in the pecking order for the right-back slot while Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio and even Eden Hazard are preferred over him in attack. Disillusioned at the club, Vazquez is now seeking an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu, piquing the interest of Arsenal.
The north London giants had been credited with a strong interest in Vazquez earlier this year before he signed a new contract at Real Madrid. And, as per the report mentioned above, it now seems that they have rekindled their pursuit of the Spanish international.
Arsenal have Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe as options on the right flank at the Emirates, while Gabriel Martinelli can also play in the position. However, the Gunners are considering selling the Ivory Coast international with Mikel Arteta not favouring him much in recent weeks. Should he depart, Vazquez could potentially be seen as a replacement, although the Spaniard does not fit into the profile of players Arsenal have been looking to sign of late.
But his ability to play at right-back could also be a factor as Hector Bellerin is unlikely to remain with the Gunners after his current loan spell at Real Betis while Ainsley Maitland-Niles is being used in his preferred midfield role. The 30-year-old could be seen as a squad player to provide cover across the right flank while adding experience and winning mentality to the team.
The report adds that Real Madrid would not stand in the way of Vazquez if he wants to leave and will demand a transfer fee of €15 million, although president Florentino Perez would be open to lowering it. Apart from Arsenal, Sevilla, Valencia, AS Roma, Napoli are all interested, while PSG are also linked. It now remains to be seen if the Spaniard ends up leaving Real Madrid in the near future.