Real Madrid: The usual suspects want Arsenal midfielder

Real Madrid center midfielder Dani Ceballos is set to return to the club after a one-year loan spell with Arsenal, but where will he head next?

Dani Ceballos is a technically brilliant player who has all the qualities to be a star midfielder, but because Real Madrid have so much talent in the center of the park, it’s unclear if he’ll have a future starting in Los Blancos’ midfield.

The former Real Betis man spent the 2019-2020 season with Arsenal, beginning the season as a key starter before falling by the wayside and then later recovering his starting spot and form after working hard in the second half of the season.

Despite Ceballos’ resurgent and some encouraging reports about how Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta now views the midfielder, Arsenal is not expected to sign the player permanently. Ceballos will almost certainly return to Real Madrid upon the official completion of this loan deal, and his future is up in the air.

During the winter transfer deadline when Ceballos was reportedly pushing for a termination of his loan deal with Arsenal in order to sign a new loan deal with a La Liga side, Valencia and Real Betis were linked to the Spain international.

Now in April, MARCA’s Fernando Alvarez and Miguel A. Moran report that Valencia and Betis remain keeping a watchful eye on Ceballos and his situation. Both teams look like expected loan destinations for the talented 23-year-old.

Ceballos used to be a star at Betis alongside potential Real Madrid transfer target – and current Napoli standout – Fabian Ruiz. The links to Betis have seemed the strongest, so they could be the favorites to land him. An attack featuring Ceballos and Nabil Fekir as creative playmakers at different levels of the team would be quite fearsome.

Per the report from MARCA, Valencia were actually “close” to landing Ceballos during the winter, but Real Madrid ultimately didn’t want to make one of their traditional competitors in La Liga even stronger. That could be a factor to remember, though Betis’ head-to-head win over Madrid in the most recent game of the season is a reminder that Los Verdiblancos are no slouch either.

Ceballos’ situation is worth monitoring closely, and another loan deal seems almost certain at this point. But at 23 and with well-rounded abilities in the center of the pitch, Ceballos could eventually circle his way back to Los Blancos as a key member of the squad. Real don’t seem keen on parting ways with him permanently yet.