Arsenal are looking to bring in a Real Madrid star on a bargain deal, as Mikel Arteta adds to his squad
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could repeat a trick in the transfer market to bring a Real Madrid star to north London on a bargain deal.
In the summer of 2021, the Gunners signed Los Blancos midfielder Martin Odegaard permanently, following a successful loan for the Norwegian. Odegaard only moved for around £30 million and has been a palpable hit at the Emirates Stadium.
Now, another Real Madrid star has become available on a cut-price deal, with Arteta looking to improve on his squad, which now looks set to finish second in the Premier League.
Arsenal will likely finish second in the Premier League now (Image credit: Getty Images)
According to The Mirror, Real star Ferland Mendy will be available this summer for under £20m – and could well be an option for Arsenal.
The Frenchman has struggled to hold a place down in the starting XI this season, with Eduardo Camavinga and Nacho preferred at left-back – but he has plenty of attributes which suggest he could be the kind of full-back that Arteta would like to work with.
At 27, Mendy has plenty of experience at the top level in the Champions League but has the advantage of being more two-footed than the average full-back, too. Kieran Tierney has been used in that position in the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko but has struggled to adapt to the inverting aspect of the role.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is arguably Arsenal's most two-footed player – and has been used as left-back on occasion this season.
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Ferland Mendy could be on the move this summer (Image credit: Getty Images)
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
