Arsenal are being encouraged to make a move for Colombian international James Rodriguez.
The 27-year-old is in the final six months of a two-year loan from Real Madrid with Bayern Munich keen to offload the playmaker if they can find a club willing to pay a £3million fee to release him from the existing agreement.
Rodriguez has not started a match for Bayern since November 3 – that was just his seventh start of the campaign – and is believed to be open to a move to the Premier League.
The Gunners are yet to indicate whether they will pursue a deal but any move for Rodriguez would cast further doubt on Mesut Ozil’s future at the club.
Head coach Unai Emery has clarified that he wants a winger who can play on either flank and a centre-back this month but the club can only sign players on loan due to the absence of a January transfer budget and a bloated wage bill.
However, a player of Rodriguez’s pedigree could be an attractive option, although any move would probably be dependent upon securing a buyer for Ozil, who has fallen out of favour at Emirates Stadium.
Both Ozil and the club have agreed to review the player’s situation at the end of the season but an offer from one of Europe’s leading clubs would force a rethink and potentially fund a move for Rodriguez.
Arsenal continue to push for an agreement with Barcelona over Denis Suarez. The midfielder is open to joining the Gunners but Barca still want a £20million fee this month or a firm commitment that valuation will be met in the summer while Arsenal are pursuing a straight loan move.
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