Arsenal could make an attempt to bring Colombian attacker James Rodriguez to the Emirates in the January transfer window.
Rodriguez played at Bayern Munich for a couple of seasons on loan, but has returned to Real Madrid, where he has had an injury-hit season.
As per AS, Rodriguez’s Madrid misery could come to an end soon as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to sign the 28-year-old.
Everton are also interested in signing Rodriguez, who was managed by current Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti while the two were at Bayern Munich.
The Gunners could sign him on loan as they don’t have the money to spend in the January transfer window. They already have one Madrid player on loan as they brought in Dani Ceballos on loan in the summer.
Rodriguez’s current contract with Madrid expires only in 2021. He has made 11 appearances this season, scoring once and making one assist.
James Rodriguez – A good creative option for Arsenal?
James Rodriguez hasn’t quite lived up to expectations that many had for him following his great performances at the 2014 World Cup.
The Colombian’s two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich hasn’t helped him win back a place in the Real Madrid lineup and it seems that the Spanish club want to let go of him to free funds for new signings.
The 28-year-old is a talented player, who has excellent vision and possesses the ability to play clever through balls and passes. His excellent technical ability also allows him to shoot from distance and make pin-point crosses.
But, is an attacking midfielder the priority for the Gunners at the moment? It seems not. The north London club have the likes of Mesut Ozil and Ceballos to play in the attacking midfield role, while Joe Willock is another option for Arteta.
The Gunners have several options out wide as well, with the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka, and the exciting Gabriel Martinelli all options for wide roles.
What the Gunners need are defensive midfielders and central defenders, which is a priority. A player like Rodriguez can be signed if they sell Ozil. Rodriguez is a good option for the Gunners, but is not a priority for them at the moment.