Arsenal will have to pay a club record fee to snare Arda Guler from Real Madrid.
The Turkish talent was in action last night in the Champions League, named in Xabi Alonso's line-up ahead of Jude Bellingham for Los Blancos – just hours after Arsenal won in Spain themselves, beating Athletic Club 2-0 in the early kick-off.
With Real Madrid impressed with Guler so far this season, however, they're bracing themselves for Guler to become the subject of yet another Premier League transfer saga.
Arsenal have already held talks with Arda Guler over a move
Arsenal spent heavily on eight new recruits over the summer, with five of them – Cristhian Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi – making their Champions League debuts for the club last night.
The Gunners have also all but committed to their first signing of next summer in the form of Piero Hincapie, with Bayer Leverkusen having a clause to force Arsenal into triggering a £45m option to buy, as per The Athletic – yet sporting director Andrea Berta may be about to shatter the Gunners' transfer record once more.
According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, intermediaries have told Real that should Guler continue on his current trajectory, Premier League clubs will look to sign the Turkish star for €150 million.
Arsenal are long-term admirers of the playmaker, having first opened talks with Guler three years ago during his time at Fenerbahce, before floating the idea of a loan move for the wonderkid in November 2024, as per Spanish publication Sport.
FourFourTwo understands, however, that Xabi Alonso has no interest in losing the star to childhood pal Arteta – with Defensa adding that Merengues president Florentino Perez won't even accept the touted record bid.
Guler – who was ranked at no.2 in FourFourTwo's list of the most exciting teenagers to watch last season – has established himself as one of Real Madrid's most prominent creative players, starting ahead of most established stars as Alonso favours youth and intensity in the press.
Despite their historic interest, Arsenal, meanwhile, are unlikely to be make a record move for the no.10, given their embarrassment of riches in attack now – especially as Guler would stylistically most suit Martin Odegaard's role in the Gunners side, with Ethan Nwaneri his deputy at the Emirates Stadium.
Guler is worth €45m, according to Transfermarkt.
