Arsenal have ‘£76m dream signing’ on shortlist waiting for permission to move | Football | Sport

Arsenal are reportedly waiting for ‘dream signing’ Rodrygo to hold crunch talks with Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso over his future. A move for the Brazilian forward is said to be high on the Gunners’ agenda this summer.

Last summer’s arrival of Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu pushed Rodrygo down the pecking order, although he did start 22 of his 30 La Liga appearances. New head coach Alonso is said to be keen to improve his forward line over the coming months. It remains to be seen whether the 24-year-old is a major part of the Spaniard’s plans. He is reportedly due for discussions with Alonso over his future.

According to Give Me Sport, Arsenal are waiting to see whether Rodrygo tells Alonso that he wants to leave the Spanish capital. If he does decide to depart, Arsenal could pursue a blockbuster move in their hunt for a new left-winger.

It is claimed that Los Blancos would be prepared to sanction a sale at around £76m, but only if Rodrygo explicitly states his desire to leave. The 33-cap Brazil international is currently playing at the Club World Cup, where he has started one of Madrid’s three games so far.

Asked about Rodrygo after Madrid’s first match against Al-Hilal in the US, Alonso said: “I can tell you to a point. I know what happened, that the end of the season was not easy for him. He took some time that was good for him, to reset his head. We talked from day one and I see him looking forward to enjoying himself with his quality.”

Arsenal are determined to strengthen their forward line this summer. A new left-winger could be high on their radar as a centre-forward.

Nico Williams previously appeared to be Arsenal’s top target, but the Spaniard seems destined to join Barcelona. Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is also widely understood to be a target for the Gunners, while Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been linked.

Arsenal also plan to sign a centre-forward this summer. Their forwards struggled for goals last season, partially contributing to the 10-point gap between themselves and Premier League champions Liverpool. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus missed the second half of the season through long-term injuries, although Havertz returned as a substitute on the final day of the campaign.