Arteta changes plan in Rodrygo bid as Plan B emerges

Arsenal’s interest in Real Madrid winger Rodrygo is not over and Mikel Arteta is reportedly formulating a plan that will allow the Gunners to sign the Brazil international.

Eberechi Eze has become Arteta’s first choice for left wing, but while the England international is top of Arsenal’s shortlist, the North Londoners are looking at resurrecting their interest in Rodrygo as a Plan B.

The 23-year-old’s situation at the Bernabeu is unresolved. Real Madrid are reportedly open to allowing him to leave if he issues a transfer request, with talks expected between the player and club this week.

Los Blancos may have slapped a price tag of €100 million on the player but Arsenal are formulating an offer that they hope might persuade the Spaniards to accept a bid, Fichajes reports.

Key to Arsenal’s plan is Leandro Trossard. Borussia Dortmund want to sign the 29-year-old former Brighton star, who is only under contract for another year.

If the Bundesliga side offer the Gunners a deal in the region of €15m, the Spanish source indicates they will accept the offer. With BVB targeting experienced talent at an affordable price, such a deal ticks a key box for the Bundesliga club.

While the €15m fee would not eat significantly into Real Madrid’s Rodrygo asking price, it would reduce Arsenal’s wage bill sufficiently to free up space and allow them to move for the South American star.

Expert opinion: Rodrygo to Arsenal

Despite the report, it would be a surprise if Arsenal were to move Rodrygo given his cost, which is substantially more than Eze.

FootballTransfers’ understanding is that Arsenal want to keep Trossard on their books along with Oleksandr Zinchenko after previously considering selling both.

The Gunners have already spent big on Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres this summer, and while it might be tempting to sign another blockbuster deal to keep up with the free-spending Liverpool, it does not appear to be in the DNA of this Arsenal team to make another gigantic move.

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