Arsenal are preparing to make a bid for Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez, according to reports in Spain.
The Gunners are set to lose Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard back to Real Madrid in the summer with the loanees returning to their parent club.
It is understood that Los Blancos are keen to see Odegaard return, while Ceballos has ruled out a permanent move to the Gunners.
MAILBOX: Arteta’s stubbornness will cost him Arsenal job…
That will leave Arsenal short of midfield numbers with the Gunners likely to invest in that area of the pitch in the summer transfer window.
And El Desmarque claims that Rodriguez is appearing at the top of their list with Real Betis likely to sell one or two of their star players this summer.
Rodriguez has impressed this season for Betis – especially in recent weeks by putting in a man-of-the-match performance against Athletic Bilbao – and ‘has grown a lot’ since moving to the Spanish side from Mexican giants Club America in 2020.
Betis are ‘convinced that an offer [for Rodriguez] will arrive that generates added value’ this summer before using it to ‘improve the squad’ and make their bank balance look healthier.
And El Desmarque add that ‘everything indicates that Arsenal will carry out the attempt for Guido in a month’ with his release clause set at €80m (£70m).
Click Here: Warriors rugby store
Betis are ‘already giving signs that suggest that they want to curdle a great business with Arsenal’ and the La Liga side are boosted by the fact that Arsenal are ‘used to spending large amounts of money on their signings’.
And Mexican football specialist Tom Marshall explained in October 2020, when the Argentina international moved to Betis, what Rodriguez offers teams.
Marshall told World Football Index: “For me, he became one of the best players in the league and it was clear that at some point European clubs would become seriously interested, especially when the Argentine national team came calling.
“America still misses him. Rodriguez is a pretty traditional holding midfielder, good at breaking up opposition attacks and shielding the defence while using the ball smartly in possession. He also definitely enjoys the physical side of the game.”