Arsenal are reportedly working on a deal for Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz before the summer transfer deadline.
The Gunners are currently enjoying an excellent season, with Mikel Arteta leading them into first place in the Premier League with ten games to play.
Arsenal making a splash in the transfer market?
Arsenal qualified for the round of 16 in the Champions League with a penalty kick win over Porto in the round of 16, where they will face Bayern Munich.
And Arsenal will once again be a major player in the transfer market, with Arteta’s team improving year on year since the Spaniard’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium in 2019,
The summer signings of Declan Rice, David Ray and Kai Havertz have improved Arteta’s squad in that period, while there is excitement over Jurrien Timber’s return to fitness.
There are many rumours that Arsenal need a central striker this summer, as pundits and former players doubt that they will be able to win the Premier League with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as their two main strikers.
That is likely to happen, but Spanish newspaper Nacional insists that Arteta is also keen to strengthen his position in attacking midfield and on the wing.
The report adds that Arsenal have offered €70m (£60m) for Diaz ahead of the summer transfer deadline, and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez must decide whether to sell or keep him.
Arsenal are “interested” in the former Manchester City player, who was at the Etihad Stadium during Arteta’s time as his assistant, after he has shown in recent weeks that he is ready to become one of Real Madrid’s leading players.
But Kylian Mbappe’s arrival on a free transfer this summer “means it will be even more difficult for Brahim to become a starter”.
That means he will “consider packing his bags” and Arsenal are “in the auction” for him as the biggest club wanting his services in the next transfer window.
The Gunners still have money left over for David Raya
Arsenal, who have been interested in Diaz for a long time, will also pay £27 million to Brentford this summer to finalise Ray’s permanent move to the Emirates Stadium, with the Brentford goalkeeper currently on a season-long loan.
“After his heroics in the Champions League this week, we already know that Arsenal’s plans for next season include a permanent purchase of goalkeeper David Rayo from Brentford,” transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told Caught Offside.
“Arsenal have an option to buy clause in this contract, but in reality there was already a pact between Arsenal and Brentford, but for the financial fair play they made it as an initial loan with an option to buy.
“Nevertheless, Arsenal will pay £27m for Ray this summer – they trust him for the present and the future. He has always been on the club’s radar as a talented goalkeeper, so they took the opportunity to finalise this deal last summer. The man who made the decision to sign him – alongside Arteta and Edu, of course – is assistant GK Inaki Cana, who knew him very well.”
