Despite having a reported limited budget Arsenal have apparently moved ahead of Tottenham in the race to sign Real Madrid star Dani Ceballos.
Ceballos, who is valued at £45 Million, is not part of Real manager Zinedine Zidane’s plans next season and is therefore on the market so to speak and the two clubs said to be front runners are Arsenal and our bitter rivals Tottenham, but if the press is to be believed we have moved ahead of Spurs.
The problem for Arsenal is obviously the fee, however, the Spanish media as cited by the Daily Express are claiming that Unai Emery is looking for a loan deal with an option to buy as opposed to a permanent transfer.
The 22-year-old is seen as an ideal replacement for the departed Aaron Ramsey and if the proposed loan deal is a success then Arsenal would then trigger the option to buy.
Whether Real would look favourably on a loan deal must be open to question, they have already spent heavily and will need to balance the books to some extent.
Personally, I just cannot see this one happening. It really is not in the best interests of Real Madrid to agree to a loan deal and why would they when there are other clubs interested in a permanent deal?
That said, if Tottenham do not follow through then it may be a case of a loan deal with an option to buy is better than nothing.
Plus, it should be noted that the press in Spain are saying that Arsenal is in pole position to sign the midfielder.