AS are pretty certain there’s something going on with Arsenal and Lucas Vazquez.
In their Friday edition, which will have been completed late on Thursday night, they explained Arsenal had offered €30m, with Real Madrid wanting €40m.
To try and bridge the gap, the Gunners were said to have offered a further €10m in bonuses.
After that was published, someone clearly gave them a new update. It was claimed a deal could be done for €32m plus €3m in bonus payments, indicating a meeting in the middle.
They added: ‘The transaction could be closed early next week if the English team convinces the player with an attractive offer.
‘Lucas Vazquez has decided for Arsenal in the absence of knowing the economic offer of the Gunners, who will do everything on their part to convince him, an express request of his coach, Unai Emery. The player could press in the negotiation with the offers that have also received from Inter, Bayern and PSG, three clubs of the European elite that have also set themselves in Lucas.’
To give this further weight, Christian Falk, the German journalist closest to Bayern, has since confirmed the AS claims about Bavarian interest are correct, although they’ve not made a transfer offer yet.
That won’t be news a lot of Arsenal fans wish to hear, with the reaction to the potential signing not exactly being one of excitement.
This is perhaps a little unfair on 28 year old Vazquez, who has been very highly valued by Zinedine Zidane and among teammates in the Real Madrid squad. Last year he made 44 appearances for Madrid, the previous season it was 50.
Over those two campaigns he’s scored 12 goals and made 19 assists, which isn’t a bad return considering many of the matches were substitute appearances. The right-footer is flexible and can adapt to a variety of systems.
AS push Arsenal interest again on Friday afternoon, saying the Gunners are ‘determined’ to get the signing. It’s also explained that Zidane ‘loves him’ but is unsure if he’d get the same minutes next season.
Vazquez is currently relaxing at Rafa Nadal’s tennis centre on Mallorca, getting some pre-preseason training in and waiting for news on his future.
