Arsenal are one of two clubs ‘most interested’ in a move for Real Madrid’s James Rodríguez but look likely to face frustration in any attempt to sign him.
Rodríguez returned to the Bernabeu this summer after Bayern Munich elected not to turn his two-year loan spell at the club into a permanent move.
He’s made nine appearances for Real Madrid this season but has struggled to establish himself under Zinedine Zidane, playing the full 90 minutes in just two games all season.
There have long been suggestions that he is not wanted at the club, with his name among those rumoured to be on the sell list as Zidane continues his rebuild.
He has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal a name that has popped up on numerous occasions.
And according to El Desmarque, the Gunners remain keen on a move, with them and Napoli the two sides ‘most interested’ in getting a deal.
However, neither has made an official bid for the player and they may face frustration should they ever bother to do so.
According to the website, Rodríguez has informed Real Madrid chief Florentino Pérez that he wants to stay at the club in January and fight for his place.
He does not want to change in the winter market as he knows there’s a high chance he’d make the wrong move.
Instead, the Colombian would prefer to hold off on a move until next summer, after the Copa America, when, should he do well at the tournament, there may be more offers on the table than there are now.
Whether one of them is from Arsenal remains to be seen, but it seems any attempts to sign the Colombian before next summer would prove fruitless.
