Arsenal are reportedly preparing a £36million January bid for Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez.
The Colombia international has struggled for form and fitness since returning to the Bernabeu following a two-year loan stint at Bayern Munich.
He has recorded just one goal and a single assist in his seven LaLiga outings this campaign, and under-fire boss Unai Emery is willing to take a risk on signing the 28-year-old at the turn of the year.
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Emery has been reluctant to call upon Mesut Ozil despite their problems in the Premier League this season, and Spanish media outlet El Desmarque claim that the Gunners are now ready to ‘throw the house out the window’ to bring Rodriguez to north London.
The report states Arsenal are prepared to fork out a fee of up to £36m to sign Rodriguez, which is more than what other interested parties, namely Napoli and Atletico Madrid, are willing to pay.
However, it is believed Real president Florentino Perez is holding out for £42m in order to let the player go.
Zinedine Zidane has left out of Rodriguez on multiple occasions this term, despite the attacker being fully fit for selection for the majority of the campaign.
Arsenal have not been put off by his lack of game time, however, and will hope they can force Real into letting Rodriguez go when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the new year.
Zidane recently admitted he was unsure about whether Rodriguez had a future in the Spanish capital, saying: “I can not tell you exactly what’s happening, that’s the reality.
“It’s a bit like the situation with Bale. He’s not available yet, he’s still suffering from discomforts. “Hopefully he’ll be back soon. I want my players with me, but then it’s difficult to make the call, but I prefer it that way.”