Real Madrid have set an asking price of £77m for Arsenal target Rodrygo, with the Spanish club reportedly open to selling the Brazilian winger this summer. The Gunners have made the 24-year-old their top target as they seek an elite left-sided attacker, amid expectations that Nico Williams will join Barcelona instead.
Arsenal defender Gabriel has publicly endorsed a move for his Brazil teammate, describing Rodrygo as a "phenomenon" and expressing a desire to have him at the Emirates. "I'd like [it] obviously," Gabriel told Brazilian podcast PodPah. "He's a phenomenon. I've told people already, he's a phenomenon. If it was up to me, of course [I want him at Arsenal]!"
According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, there is a "real possibility" that Rodrygo will join Arsenal. The forward has three years remaining on his contract, placing Real Madrid in a strong negotiating position and leading them to demand around €90m (£77m). Manchester City are also said to be monitoring the situation, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur considered a move last summer.
Rodrygo is currently with Real Madrid at the Club World Cup, where new manager Xabi Alonso has addressed the speculation. "He's a Madrid player and I will have a conversation with everyone because we need to do so," Alonso said last month. "We'll get to know each other. He's a spectacular player and we need him." After the opening match against Al-Hilal, Alonso added: "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."
To finance a potential deal, Arsenal are looking to offload fringe players. Kieran Tierney and Jorginho are set to leave on free transfers, while Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos have already joined Lazio and Cruzeiro respectively. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior could also depart, and the club may consider selling Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard, with Bayern Munich linked to Martinelli and Trossard attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League.
