Arsenal are looking to add a dynamic winger to Mikel Arteta’s ranks in the summer transfer window, and Andrea Berta has subsequently drawn up a list of targets.
The Gunners want to source an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli, who has flattered to deceive at times in the last two seasons.
It’s well documented that Nico Williams is Arsenal’s primary target, although the Spaniard may not be willing to swap the Basque country for N5 as he eyes a switch to Barcelona.
Thus, Berta has a number of other options he’s exploring on the market, including the likes of Ademola Lookman, Rodrygo and Antoine Semenyo.
Arsenal don’t want to meet Rodrygo’s wage demands
Rodrygo has emerged as a target for Arsenal in the last week or so, with the Gunners sensing they may be able to opportunistically land the Brazilian this summer.
Arsenal Insider revealed last week that Rodrygo is willing to leave Real Madrid, although he wants to establish where he stands in the pecking order under Xabi Alonso before making a definitive decision.
A stumbling block in a potential deal between the Gunners and Los Blancos for the wide forward has now been reported by journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Plettenberg suggests that the prospective transfer is ‘proving to be very complicated’ due to the player’s excessive wage demands.
Rodrygo is reportedly demanding around €10 million a year, a salary Arsenal are not prepared to offer.
The German journalist did restate, however, that the 24-year-old is still willing to depart the Bernabeu if he is to receive the ‘right offer’.
Arsenal must fold on wage demands and sign Rodrygo
Rodrygo is the only top-quality winger Arsenal are being linked with, and thus, he must be deemed a priority signing by the Gunners’ hierarchy.
Williams is raw and lacks the output to justify a £50 million outlay on him, while there are question marks about the likes of Lookman, Semenyo and Rafael Leao.
It’s been widely reported that part of the reason Liverpool didn’t tie Trent Alexander-Arnold down to a new contract before the right-back opted to leave for free for Real Madrid is that the Merseyside club weren’t willing to meet his wage demands (via the Daily Mail).
| Rodrygo’s La Liga Statistics 2024/25 | |
| Appearances | 30 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Shots per 90 | 2.52 |
| Expected Goals per 90 | 0.19 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 2.29 |
| Successful Take-Ons per 90 | 2.29 |
Arsenal cannot make the same mistake their north-west counterparts made and must relent on these wage principles by offering Rodrygo what he wants.
Jude Bellingham described Rodrygo as ‘gifted’, which speaks volumes about the calibre of the player.
Technically excellent, an effective dribbler and a goal-scorer when deployed off the left, the Brazil international would elevate Arsenal’s attack significantly.
Making adjustments to the wage bill structure is a price Arsenal may have to pay to land one of the best wingers in Europe.
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