Arsenal are on the lookout for a midfielder this month, and while this was common knowledge amongst fans, no one expected the Gunners to make a move for one of Real Madrid's most talented youngsters: Eduardo Camavinga.
However, this is what the Gunners are reportedly exploring. According to the Evening Standard, Mikel Arteta's side are interested in bringing the aforementioned Frenchman to the Emirates Stadium in a bid to bolster their Premier League title challenge.
It should be noted that this would be a loan deal until the end of the season, but given how that story unfolded for Martin Odegaard, fans of the North London giants began dreaming about the prospect of Camavinga potentially joining the English top-flight leaders.
Despite impressing for Los Blancos in his cameos off the bench last season in the UEFA Champions League, the 20-year-old is yet to establish himself in the Spanish capital and struggles for minutes. The former Rennes sensation has appeared in all but one of Los Merengues' La Liga fixtures this season but has only started five times, thus accumulating only 554 minutes on the pitch this term.
As a result, one could see why Arsenal are exploring a loan deal. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Aurélien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde are Ancelotti's four most-trusted midfielders, leaving Camavinga on the periphery. On the flip side, in North London, the Frenchman would get more minutes and could help the English giants claim their first league title in nearly two decades.
However, what are the odds of this occurring? The well-known Fabrizio Romano has touched upon this transfer rumor in his recent YouTube video and while he did not deny the interest from Arsenal, he stated that Real Madrid have no intention of letting Camavinga go as of now. While that stance can always change in the final week of the January transfer window, it's an understandable position as Los Blancos are fighting for La Liga and the UEFA Champions League and will need more than four reliable midfielders, especially given that Valverde is often deployed out wide.
"What I am told, at this moment of the market, is that Real Madrid have absolutely no chance and no intention to let Camavinga leave on loan," Fabrizio said.
"At the moment, Real Madrid want to continue with the same squad at least until the end of the season. They trust Camavinga. They paid important money for him. They're convinced Camavinga is an important player for the present and future. At the moment, Real Madrid are not having any kind of conversations to let Camavinga leave. Let's see if this will change in the next (few) days."
And there you have it! Does that mean the player will not join the Gunners? The answer is no, as Romano pointed out because things can change quite rapidly in the transfer market. However, the odds of this happening aren't likely.
Despite this disappointing update, Arsenal fans are still expected to welcome new signings. Jakub Kiwior, the highly-rated Polish center-back who has made a name for himself at Spezia in Serie A, is on his way to the English capital to complete his medical after agreeing to join Arteta's side. Real Valladolid starlet Ivan Fresneda, meanwhile, could follow suit as the Gunners look to be leading the race for the talented 18-year-old right-back.
And with Leandro Trossard having completed a move from Brighton to the Emirates Stadium, the Premier League leaders can feel comfortable with their squad amid their unexpected title challenge. Next up for Saka and Co. is a highly-anticipated showdown with Manchester United as they look to beat their bitter rivals straight after their impressive North London Derby victory.
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