According to AS, Arsenal are believed to be the frontrunners in the pursuit of Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez. The Spaniard is also courted by PSG, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan but his desire to play in the Premier League makes the Gunners slight favourites to seal his signature this summer.
It is believed that the negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs, and if everything goes well, the deal could be completed as early as next week. The report claims that Arsenal are willing to cough up €35 million in total for the Galician attacker.
Vazquez’s spell at Real Madrid
Vazquez made the next step in his career by joining Real Madrid in a €1 million move from RCD Espanyol back in 2015. He was primarily considered as a backup for star man Gareth Bale. But, the Welshman’s struggles with injuries saw the ex-RM Castilla star play a prominent role in the first-team under Zinedine Zidane.
During his ongoing four year spell at the Bernabeu, Vazquez has made 183 appearances for the club in all competitions, during which he scored 21 goals and provided 44 assists. He helped the club secure three back to back Champions League titles as well as a La Liga title.
However, with Los Blancos roping in the likes of Eden Hazard, Rodrygo and Luka Jovic this summer, Vazquez is unlikely to play a key role under Zidane next season. Hence, a move away from the Bernabeu makes sense.
What can Vazquez offer to the table?
Vazquez is a dynamic winger, who relies on his pace to not only to drift past defenders but also provide a genuine threat on the counter. He is also blessed with immense technical prowess and could link-up with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in the final third.
However, what makes Vazquez such an appealing target for Arsenal is his versatility as he can also feature as a right wing-back. That means they will be able to utilise him as a makeshift wing-back in their three-man defensive formation, which could be useful especially with Hector Bellerin struggling with injuries and Stephan Lichtsteiner being released this summer.
Should Arsenal make a move for Vazquez?
Following Alexis Sanchez’s departure to Manchester United at the start of last year, Arsenal have never really been able to replace the Chilean international properly. As a result, the Gunners have struggled with their productivity from the wider areas of the pitch.
Vazquez, in that regard, could be a welcome addition to the team. The Spaniard has the quality as well as the experience to thrive at the Emirates under Unai Emery. He can also bring that winning mentality to the team as the Gunners look to return among the English elites next season.
