Arsenal edging closer to loan transfer of Dani Ceballos from Real MadridThe Gunners are closing in on the signing of highly-rated midfielder Dani Ceballos after signing Saliba from St. Etienne
Arsenal are confident of completing a loan deal for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos - and beating Tottenham to a second summer signing.Gunners boss Unai Emery has targeted Ceballos to join Arsenal on a one-year loan deal to bolster his squad and become a much-needed addition to his midfield.
They have held lengthy talks with Real Madrid as well as Ceballos and his advisers and are now very hopeful of getting a deal over the line.That would be a major coup as Tottenham have also been in the running for the 22-year-old Spanish midfielder as Mauricio Pochettino is a big admirer.
It also comes after Arsenal beat Tottenham to the signing of St Etienne’s teenage defender William Saliba as the 18-year-old centre half is due to undergo a medical and join in a £27m deal.
Arsenal have agreed to loan Saliba back to St Etienne for a season just to get the deal done and the France under-20s starlet is regarded as one of the best defensive prospects in Europe.
Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi has flown back to London from the club’s US tour as the club step up their attempts to get transfers deals completed with the clock ticking down.
They are also in the market for Celtic’s Kieran Tierney but Arsenal only have a £45m budget this summer which is why being able to spread Saliba’s payments and a loan move for Ceballos suits them.
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is keen to move to Arsenal but that deal looks increasingly unlikely as they are miles apart on the valuation.
Arsenal meet Real Madrid in their International Champions Cup pre-season tour of the US in Washington on Tuesday night but Ceballos was allowed to join up late after playing for Spain in their victorious Euro under-21s tournament in June.
Further talks are expected and Emery admitted after Arsenal’s win over Fiorentina on Saturday night that he will wait for Saliba and the deals are falling into place.
Emery said: “I am patient because we want to choose the best solution. Some players are very expensive and we are waiting for this possibility because we don’t want now to go to the second line of players. We are waiting and really we have very good young players.
“We are aware we also need to improve some players in this squad. But I only want to sign three or four players only if we can be sure they are coming to improve our squad. There are a lot of names and the club is working.
“(Technical director) Edu is very close to me every day and also with Kroenke family. I want to send a message to all our supporters that we want to do the best squad possible.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-edging-closer-loan-transfer-18497503
