According to Mundo Deportivo, Juventus have joined the race to sign Dani Ceballos this summer. The Real Madrid midfielder is currently on loan at Arsenal, who are keen on securing his services for another campaign. These two clubs are joined by Valencia and Real Betis, in the pursuit of Ceballos, who is likely to cost around €40 million.
In this article, however, we will discuss three reasons why Mikel Arteta should give up on Ceballos this summer and reshuffle his midfield unit.
Ceballos hasn’t been effective enough
Ceballos initially joined Arsenal as a replacement for Aaron Ramsey, who, coincidentally moved to Juventus in a free transfer last summer. That means the Real Madrid midfielder was primarily expected to fill in for the absence of a transition player, who could bridge the gap between midfield and attack.
While Ceballos has shown glimpses of his talent, he has not been able to make the desired impact Arsenal were looking for. The Spaniard initially missed out on a chunk of the campaign due to a muscle injury, and even after returning, he found it difficult to get a place in the starting lineup under Arteta.
In 14 Premier League matches, Ceballos has only notched up ten starts, during which he has registered only two assists. The 23-year-old has also mustered just over one key pass per game, which, though a decent number, is not enough to replace Ramsey.
He is not the kind of player Arteta needs
Despite the departure of Ramsey serving as a massive blow for Arsenal, the way the club operates in midfield has changed under Arteta. Granit Xhaka, in particular, has emerged as a key figure in the middle of the park. The Swiss international has led the side well, providing composure and security during the possession phases.
And with Arsenal likely to persist with a 4-2-3-1 setup, Xhaka could definitely welcome the arrival of a defence-oriented midfielder, who can provide defensive support to the team. Someone like Marc Roca, for example, could be an excellent signing for the Gunners.
The Espanyol star can not only establish himself as a number six, but he can also combine well with Xhaka, who likes to distribute possession, thus adding a new dimension to the Arsenal midfield.
Arsenal simply can’t afford Ceballos
Another key talking point behind this Ceballos pursuit is that Real Madrid’s asking fee of €40 million is simply too much for Arsenal. The north London giants are already operating on a low budget and splashing that much cash on a player, who is yet to establish himself in the Premier League will be a huge risk.
Therefore, it would perhaps be wiser for Arteta just to move on and shift his attention towards other targets in the market as he seeks to make some changes in the Arsenal team this summer.
