Xabi Alonso sends Arsenal transfer message over £67m Real Madrid star

Arsenal have been heavily linked with Rodrygo but Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has hinted that the Brazil international is poised to stay in the Spanish capital

Xabi Alonso has reiterated that Rodrygo is happy at Real Madrid as Arsenal continue to be linked with a blockbuster summer swoop for the highly-rated Brazil international.

The Gunners want to bolster their forward line in the transfer window and are known to be on the hunt for a new No.9. But Mikel Arteta is also in the market for a wide forward and Rodrygo, 24, has emerged as a top target after finishing the season out of favour at the Bernabeu.

There has been plenty of speculation over a move for Rodrygo, whose future in the Spanish capital has been unclear despite a change of management at Los Blancos.

But amid reports from Spain that the £67million-rated star is happy to stay and fight for a place under the new regime, Alonso has hinted that will be case.

“I know what had happened in the final stretch, it was not easy for him,” Alonso said of the former Santos man before Real Madrid's opening fixture at the Club World Cup.

“He took some time to reset his head and I see him wanting to enjoy and contribute.”

Reports in Spain have indicated that Rodrygo would prefer to stay put, while the star himself recently shared a selection of training snaps with the caption "happy".

And while the chances of Rodrygo actually swapping Madrid for London would appear to be slim after Alonso's comments, that hasn't stopped Arsenal defender, Gabriel, from giving his compatriot a glowing endorsement during a recent podcast appearance.

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“I don’t. No, I don’t, not really,” Gabriel replied when he was asked about Rodrygo potentially joining him at The Emirates during the Podpah podcast.

“But I’d like obviously. Rodrygo is a phenomenon, for me. He’s not at Arsenal… If it depended on me, I’ve told people already, he’s a phenomenon.

“His name is mentioned a lot. If it was up to me, of course.”

Rodrygo is not the only wide forward to be linked with Arsenal this summer, though another top target, Nico Williams, seems to be leaning towards joining Barcelona, rather than the Gunners.

They have made progress in their search for a new striker with reports in Germany claiming Arsenal have 'reached an agreement' over personal terms with RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.