Luka Modric is the latest name to pop up in Real Madrid’s wantaway list in order to make way for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar, Neymar. According to Diariogol, Arsenal are one of the interested parties who could land Modric’s services and Arsene Wenger will have to rival the interests of Tottenham Hotspur.
Modric is facing the later stages of his career and has to start adjusting to the decline in his athletic abilities. However, one would argue that the previous statement is all bogus as the 32-year-old is still a key figure in Zinedine Zidane’s side with all around 30 appearances this season.
Standing at 5 feet and 8 inches tall, Modric has been blessed with elite technical capabilities with a vision to single-handedly break down opposition defences.
His artistry with the ball cemented his position as the leading man in the midfield after Mesut Ozil’s exit from the Galacticos’ side. He has won 3 Champions League trophies, 1 La Liga title and 1 Copa Del Rey trophy in his 5-year stint with the club.
The only red flag in his career right now is his age and yet he is delivering on a regular basis. The Madrid corridors see a plethora of young talent clock in clock out throughout the year but not a whole lot of veterans.
The entire philosophy of the Galactico establishment is to keep the engine running. Add new parts and get rid of the old.
Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente are the shinier and polished options. Modric will be motivated to finish his career on a high and not find himself warming the benches behind the likes of younger teammates. He arrived at Madrid in the summer of 2018 under Jose Mourinho and it looked like a reunion was in the making according to rumours earlier in January.
However is he the right fit for Arsenal? The Gunners have bolstered the club ranks through the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund. They have also signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan on a swap deal for their wantaway former winger, Alexis Sanchez.
Mesut Ozil has also been handed over a massive contract and extensions are being prepared for both Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.
The club already has ball dominant players like Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Wilshere and Ramsey in the final third who needs a player to launch ball towards on the flanks.
And this is the dilemma that Wenger will have to face over shifting the creative responsibilities around the whole team if Modric does make the switch to the North London side.
