Reports: Arsenal close to Dani Ceballos loan

Dani Ceballos looked like he was heading to North London this summer, but it’s starting to appear that he might have taken a wrong turn on his way to Tottenham. Reports out of Spain are suggesting that the Tottenham Hotspur target and Real Madrid midfielder could instead be heading to Arsenal.

Ceballos is not in Zinedine Zindane’s plans and has been looking for another club for this season, but all prior reporting suggested he was looking for a season-long loan where he can get significant minutes before fighting for his place in Madrid’s side next year. Spurs were working on a deal for him, either a permanent transfer or a loan with an option to buy. Arsenal’s deal, according to both AS and MARCA, would be a one-season loan with NO option to buy, with Arsenal paying 100% of his wages, which are supposedly only around £50k/week.

AS and MARCA are not the most reliable of outlets for rumors, but they can sometimes have the goods regarding Madrid clubs before anyone else. Arsenal’s willingness to take Ceballos without a purchase option would probably trump anything Spurs would offer, since Mauricio Pochettino hates developing players that he has no chance of keeping, and Ceballos doesn’t really want to leave Madrid.

It’d certainly be annoying to lose a young player like Ceballos to the Gooners, as he’s almost certainly going to make them a better team next season, but Arsenal are basically bargain hunting here and can make a more attractive offer to Madrid and especially to Ceballos, who isn’t ready to give up on his Real Madrid dream. Plus, Arsenal have to give him back next summer. Anyway, this will all be water under the bridge if Spurs are able to work out a deal for Giovani Lo Celso, who is probably a better fit for Tottenham anyway.

As always, there’s nothing official yet so keep your powder dry. Seems like a realistic possibility, however.