Arsenal have started negotiations with Real Madrid regarding a move for their midfielder Dani Ceballos, according to reports in Express.
The Express(via Spanish publication Eldesmarque) claim that the North London club have officially launched a bid in the region of £42m.
Ceballos is on his way out of Real Madrid as he is looking to move in search of first-team football which is something that he has not been getting in Spain.
Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are also in the hunt for the midfielder but it is the Gunners who have gone one step ahead of them and submitted an actual offer.
The reason that the Emirates club are behind a player like Ceballos is due to the club looking for a replacement for Aaron Ramsey who recently left for Juventus on a free.
The club really needs to replace both the attacking as well as defensive input that was being provided by the Welshman and they feel that Ceballos is the player that can do that particular job.
The Spaniard made his name at Real Betis before making a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2017. His time at the Bernabeu has not really gone as well as the midfielder would have liked it to go.
The path to the first team has been blocked by more established players that are set to continue starting for the club. Ceballos is also not in the plans of Real manager Zinedine Zidane and is, therefore, looking elsewhere to ply his trade.
Getting a player of his profile would be certainly beneficial to the Gunners as he would add a new dimension to their midfield. He is great on the ball and can pick out passes both long and short.
Apart from this, there is a defensive side to his game that is not often talked about. He is quick to read any attacks that may develop and snuff out passes through the lines.
If the Gunners were to beat the interest of Spurs and get a player as highly rated as Ceballos, it would put the club in good stead. While the fee being quoted is large, it is what will have to be paid for a player of such quality.
