Real Madrid will likely loan Dani Ceballos for another year, but here’s how much a permanent transfer could cost.
At one point, it seemed like Real Madrid center midfielder Dani Ceballos was doomed to exit Arsenal without much fanfare, and there were even rumblings in the winter that the young standout wanted to terminate his loan.
But once Mikel Arteta truly took over and started seeing Ceballos’ determination and class, Ceballos became a regular again. He looked promising to start his loan spell in North London, but he’s truly blossomed recently since the Premier League’s return, showing more influence defensively while becoming one of Arsenal’s most important players.
Arsenal could sign Ceballos on loan for another year, or Ceballos could head back to La Liga at Real Betis – his former club before joining Real – or Valencia.
But if Arsenal want to make a deal permanent, MARCA’s Jose Felix Diaz reports that a transfer fee of around 25 million euros could be enough to get Real to sell.
Before the transfer market was altered by COVID-19, it seemed like it would take 40 million euros to get Real Madrid to sell the talented young midfielder. But now, Ceballos can go for almost half of that, which would make him a bargain signing for Arsenal, especially given how well he’s familiarized himself with Arteta and his teammates on the pitch.
Betis and Valencia are strong suitors, and Ceballos would undoubtedly flourish as a key player for both squads as well. However, Arsenal have the deeper pocketbooks and in this current economy, that matters a lot.
If Arsenal truly want Ceballos, they may not have to haggle over another loan deal. He could be theirs to buy at a reasonable price. And if he and James Rodriguez cost around the same and Arsenal want both, Ceballos makes much more sense for the Gunners.