According to AS, James Rodriguez won’t feature for Real Madrid again as Arsenal lead the likes of Atletico Madrid and PSG in the race to sign him this summer.
The Colombia international made just five La Liga starts for Madrid this term.
After spending two years on loan at Bayern Munich, Rodriguez hasn’t been in Madrid’s plans for a while and the situation came to a head in early July.
AS claim the playmaker refused to feature against Athletic Bilbao. Since then, manager Zinedine Zidane has cast him aside and placed him on the transfer list.
The Spanish editorial claim Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are keen, with Mikel Arteta’s side showing the biggest interest in signing him.
While Real Madrid rejected advances last summer, now they are open to offers. Mundo Deportivo, meanwhile, say the Spanish giants seek a £35 million fee.
Rodriguez, 29, sees his contract in the Spanish capital expire in 2021.
It appears odd that Arsenal, likely working on a limited budget, would seek a big-money deal for a 29-year-old player who is possibly on the decline while having little re-sale value.
But the Gunners may feel Rodriguez could provide that extra spark in the team.
Arsenal have made progress under Arteta, culminating in their FA Cup win. Their objective next season should be a top four spot, despite the obvious challenges.
With Dani Ceballos returning to Madrid following his loan spell, there is a creative void in midfield which needs filling and Rodriguez undoubtedly has plenty of talent.
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