Real Madrid have entered the race to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig.
They join PSG and Liverpool in pursuing the 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger, who Arsenal have also been linked with.
Leipzig have already rejected an opening bid, insisting they want Diomande to stay, but Madrid are expected to return with an improved offer.
Arsenal are said to have made calls about Diomande as they search for a marquee left winger, but Fabrizio Romano reports that the player is “not opening doors”.
A move to the Premier League now looks unlikely for Diomande, but if he were to end up at the Bernabeu, it could trigger an interesting move for Arsenal.
Yan Diomande going to Real Madrid could push Rodrygo towards the exit
Diomande is now Jose Mourinho’s top target for the right wing position, which would leave Rodrygo’s standing in doubt.
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Rodrygo had a miserable season last term. He managed just one La Liga goal in 19 appearances before tearing his ACL in March, ruling him out of the World Cup. He is not expected back for several more months, possibly stretching into the new year.
Upon his return, he could find himself even further down the pecking order at a club that have been greatly reshaping that attack.
Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirer of the Brazilian, and reports have previously suggested Arteta would play him on the left flank.
This is Rodrygo’s best position, but with Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe there, he’s been shifted to the right at Los Blancos.
Direct and technically gifted, Rodrygo is surely the type of player capable of the ‘individual actions’ Arteta has spoken about wanting more of after the Champions League final defeat.
Naturally, Arsenal fans are dreaming of a move for the other Brazilian winger at Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr.
That would be a huge sign of ambition from the club, but given Arsenal’s well-documented reluctance to spend big on a single player, that looks more fantasy than realistic right now.
A door could open up for Rodrygo though, who might be available at a cut-price given his injury.
Rodrygo is injured and Arsenal need someone now
The problem of course, is Rodrygo’s injury timeline.
Arsenal need attacking reinforcements immediately — pre-season has already started and the title defence begins on 21 August.
Realistically, Arsenal will pursue fit and available targets first. Bradley Barcola and Nico Williams are among those on the radar.
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But if a cut-price Rodrygo deal were to emerge later in the window, Arteta may find it very difficult to walk away.
A player with 71 goals and 57 assists in almost 300 Real Madrid appearances, multiple Champions League medals, and experience of winning the biggest games. That is exactly what Arsenal need if they are going to go one step further in Europe next season.
Leipzig rejecting Madrid’s opening bid for Diomande may slow things down. But the domino effect, if it eventually falls, could be very interesting for Arsenal.
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