Arsenal make transfer decision on Daniel Ceballos: report

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Daniel Ceballos on loan for the second-straight season from Real Madrid.

The Spain international made the temporary move to the Emirates last summer and he made a quick impression with a man-of-the-match display against Burnley, where he registered a couple of assists.

However, he thereafter struggled to produce the same level of performances under Unai Emery and eventually missed the festive schedule after sustaining hamstring injury.

On his recovery, Ceballos initially failed to command any playing time under new boss Mikel Arteta but he was able to start three league matches on the bounce before the coronavirus shutdown.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Ceballos is due to return to the Bernabeu at the end of the campaign but he will thereafter pursue a fresh challenge with Zinedine Zidane unlikely to play him regularly.

It is added that the Spaniard is on the radar of several clubs but the Gunners are keen on signing him on a temporary basis for the second season running.

Los Blancos are, however, said to prefer the midfielder’s permanent sale and it is suggested that Juventus are the only side willing to meet their requirement.

Ceballos started the season in a more advanced midfield role under Emery but as the campaign has progressed, he has been deployed in the centre of the park alongside Granit Xhaka.

Prior to the league’s suspension, Ceballos produced a solid performance against West Ham United in a defensive point of view, where he made five tackles and six interceptions.

It has previously been reported that he could be available for around £36m in the next transfer window and some fans have urged the club to land his permanent signature.

With the current crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, one can’t anticipate the nature of the transfer market and it remains to be seen whether the club can compete with the Bianconeri for his services.