Real Madrid have not ruled out the possibility of selling Rodrygo to Arsenal, according to reports in Spain.
The 24-year-old is on Arsenal’s shortlist alongside Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke with Mikel Arteta keen to recruit a versatile attacker alongside a new striker this summer.
Rodrygo, meanwhile, scored 14 goals and registered 10 assists for Madrid in all competitions last season but came under fire for his inconsistent performances under Carlo Ancelotti.
During Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign this month, Xabi Alonso has stressed the Brazilian’s importance to Madrid.
‘He’s still important,’ Alonso said this week.
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‘He’s a special player. I think he’ll play an important part at the Club World Cup.’
However, Cadena SER’s Antonio Romero claims that Madrid will look to sell Rodrygo before the end of the summer transfer window if his form does not improve under Alonso.
‘It’s an open secret that if Rodrygo doesn’t wake up and an offer comes in, he’s more out than in,’ Romero said.
‘The solution lies in his quality, which is a lot, and in his ability to turn games around.
‘Nobody wants to get rid of a Rodrygo like the one that appeared two or three seasons ago under Carlo Ancelotti.
‘If you have the Rodrygo of last season, melancholic and with little luck in performances and in front of goal, if an offer comes in, he’s gone.’
It’s understood that Madrid will demand a €80 million (£67.5m) transfer fee for Rodrygo.
Earlier this month, Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes endorsed his club’s push to sign Rodrygo this summer.
During his appearance on the Podpah Podcast, Gabriel was asked if he knows whether Arsenal will sign Rodrygo this summer.
‘I don’t. No, I don’t, not really,’ Gabriel replied.
‘But I’d like obviously. Rodrygo is a phenomenon, for me. He’s not at Arsenal… If it depended on me, I’ve told people already, he’s a phenomenon.
‘His name is mentioned a lot. If it was up to me, of course.’
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