As this summer’s Club World Cup slowly unfolds for the 12 European participants, the rest of the continent’s elite haven’t taken their eyes off the transfer market—even if the window hasn’t officially opened yet. But’s it’s drawing closer.
Barcelona’s aggressive push to sign Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has thrown a wrench into Arsenal’s plans, as the Basque star was high on the Gunners’ wants list. Following that disappointment, Arsenal has now turned its attention to Real Madrid—and more specifically, to Rodrygo. The Brazilian winger is emerging as one of the biggest names on the list of potential summer departures from the Bernabéu.
Gunners priced out of Nico Williams operation
Arsenal has zeroed in on four key positions to strengthen this summer: a striker, a left winger, a center back, and a midfielder. The midfield need appears close to being addressed, with Martín Zubimendi reportedly on the verge of joining. As for the left wing, with Nico Williams now out of the picture, Rodrygo has emerged as a prime target.
In Mikel Arteta’s current lineup, the left-wing position is nominally filled by Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard - two players who’ve played important roles under the Basque coach but haven’t fully convinced. Martinelli’s season was underwhelming, and Trossard has often been used out of position as a center forward—a role previously improvised with midfielder Mikel Merino as well.
At the Emirates, Martinelli’s departure isn’t off the table if a strong offer comes in. And then there’s Trossard’s situation which is a bit of a hot potato. He’s on the lower end of Arsenal’s wage scale, his contract runs through 2026, and he’s reportedly eyeing a substantial raise in his next deal.
Wage discipline and market moves
After several active transfer windows, Arsenal now sees the need to cash in on a major sale—without weakening the squad or upsetting the wage structure that Arteta has worked to maintain. That’s a big reason why the Gunners didn’t go all-in on Nico Williams, despite strong interest. It also explains the complications of any potential move for Rodrygo.
Having already explored the Athletic winger’s camp, Arsenal decided the financial demands were too steep. Reports suggest Nico could earn close to $8.6 million annually (net) at Barça—a price tag that’s kept the North London club from entering a bidding war.
Despite pumping nearly €700 million into new signings over the past four seasons, Arsenal has stuck to a tightly controlled wage policy. In fact, speculation in England suggests that only Declan Rice comes close to the £300,000-a-week threshold—roughly $23 million a year before taxes. According to several specialist salary tracking sites, not a single Arsenal player cracks the Premier League’s top-10 highest earners, putting the Gunners’ stars a tier below the likes of those at Manchester City, United and Chelsea.
And that’s another hurdle in Arsenal’s pursuit of Rodrygo. The Brazilian winger signed a contract extension with Real Madrid through 2028 and is reportedly earning between $7.5 and $8.6 million net per year—a solid mid-tier salary in Madrid’s stacked squad, but one that would vault him into Arsenal’s upper wage bracket. On top of that, any potential deal would come with a hefty transfer fee. Transfermarkt currently values Rodrygo at just over $97 million, and Real Madrid is unlikely to settle for less.
On the pitch, Rodrygo is tailor-made for Mikel Arteta’s vision—a coach who thrives with adaptable, multi-position players. Few fit that mold better than El Rayo. In fact, Rodrygo might even be a more natural fit for Arsenal than Nico Williams. At Real Madrid, he’s had to reinvent himself. Blocked on the left by an irreplaceable Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo has adapted seamlessly to the right flank and has even shown flashes as a central striker—precisely the kind of tactical flexibility Arteta has been craving all season.
For now, though, Rodrygo’s focus remains squarely on Madrid and the Club World Cup, where he’s hoping to leave an impression on new head coach Xabi Alonso. The Basque manager handed him a starting role in the tournament opener against Al Hilal. While the Brazilian didn’t quite light up the field and was subbed off at halftime, he still managed a moment of quality with the assist for Gonzalo’s goal.
Rodrygo happy in Madrid but facing new competition
Next season, Rodrygo will be competing for a place with Arder Güler and Franco Mastantuno which will limit his chances of regular playing time. When he has been rumored to be on his way out in the past, the Brazilian has insisted he is happy in Madrid and willing to fight to win his place. This time could be different.