Arsenal handed Dani Ceballos transfer update as Real Madrid decide on asking price

Real Madrid have reportedly set an asking price of £22million for Dani Ceballos as they look to raise funds for a squad rebuild. Ceballos has spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Arsenal where he has made 32 appearances in all competitions.

The Spanish midfielder has only contributed two goals and two assists but after being set a challenge by Arteta to improve, he has become an important part of an Arsenal midfield, despite its struggles to create chances in open play.

With Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro ahead of him at Madrid, Ceballos has been unable to establish himself at the Bernabeu.

The Spaniard has repeatedly made clear he wants to fight for a place at Madrid under Zinedine Zidane.

However, reports in Spain suggest, he may not get the chance to do that.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Arsenal are prepared to turn Ceballos’ loan move into a permanent deal.

The report says the Gunners face competition from Valencia and Real Betis to sign the player, who is said to be valued highly at Madrid.

Ceballos’ price tag is only £22m but it remains to be seen whether Arsenal can afford him after being financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Arsenal will need to be creative in the transfer market if they are to improve their faltering squad.

And Arteta has called on the club to be bold and take risks.

“It’s harder and harder because that’s obviously something that has to fit each other,” he said.

“You are not in the Champions League and because you are not in the Champions League, you say, ‘Okay, I don’t invest because I don’t have the financial ability to do it’.

“But the other clubs invest and then the gap becomes bigger.

“If I do want to invest and [take the] risk and then I don’t reach it, what happens? That’s the mistake.

“You have to make a decision, whether I want to aim to make that gap closer and go for it or I stay where I am.

“You can see many good examples of teams that have done it [by taking a risk] and they have come back to there [the Champions League], that way.”

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source: express.co.uk