Arsenal are reportedly plotting to make a £35m move for Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler, who is struggling to make a name for himself under Carlo Ancelotti.
The Gunners and Los Blancos will soon meet for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, where Mikel Arteta's men have an astonishing 3-0 lead to protect from last Tuesday's opening contest.
Guler was an unused substitute as his side were slain at the Emirates, and the Turkey international is yet to play a single minute of knockout football in this season's Champions League.
Guler has still appeared on 33 occasions for Ancelotti's side this season, banking three goals and seven assists, but he has started just seven La Liga games and one in the Champions League.
The 20-year-old remains highly-regarded in Real's eyes, but his path to the first team is currently blocked by Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, while Brahim Diaz is also vying for attacking minutes.
Arsenal could make £35m move for 'unhappy' Guler
© Imago
Guler's lack of starts at the Bernabeu has inevitably triggered talk of a possible exit, and it has been alleged that the 20-year-old is 'unhappy' in Madrid and could be offered an escape route to the Bundesliga.
Alternatively, The Sun claims that Arsenal could throw their hat into the ring and make a £35m swoop for the former Fenerbahce starlet, who remains under contract at Real for another four years.
It is unclear whether Blancos president Florentino Perez would sanction an exit for Guler, although a £35m move would see Los Blancos make a profit on the €20m (£17.4m) they paid to sign him from Fenerbahce in 2023.
The 2005-born prospect has contributed nine goals and seven assists in 46 appearances for the Madrid giants in that time, while also shining for Turkey at Euro 2024 with one goal and two assists at the competition.
Real may be reluctant to let Guler leave permanently, but it would not be surprising if the Champions League holders sanctioned a loan exit without an option or obligation to buy to expose him to more regular game time.
How Guler could fit in at Arsenal
© Imago
Arsenal are of course no strangers to signing young creators from Real Madrid, offering Martin Odegaard a new place to flourish in 2021, and the Norwegian now proudly sports the captain's armband at the Emirates.
Guler would be an alternative to Odegaard in the number 10 role if he was to join the Gunners this summer, but such is the Turkey international's versatility that he could also cover for and compete with Bukayo Saka on the right.
Arteta could therefore have Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri as his number 10 options, while Guler and Saka fight for the right-wing spot, or indeed vice-versa between Nwaneri and the Turk.
The Gunners would also have scope to sell Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira on permanent deals if Guler was to join, potentially raising funds for their pursuit of a new centre-forward, defensive midfielder, goalkeeper and left-winger.
Guler is actually no stranger to playing in the number nine role, but he is certainly not a solution to Arsenal's problems in that position.
Ben Knapton
