Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have made a decent start to their Premier League campaign standing at the 4th spot 12 games into the season. They are one of the inform teams in the competition and are expected to compete for the title but the manager has had a few other issues to deal with early this season. Though Spanish full-back Hector Bellerin is on the verge to sign a long-term contract, Arsenal are still mulling over new deals for star players in Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil who are still to put pen to paper. And just as it looked like Wenger might get them to sign, he is faced with a new problem with European Champions Real Madrid reportedly eying a move for star midfielder Aaron Ramsey.
The Welsh international who joined Arsenal from Cardiff City back in 2008, has made 190 senior appearances for the side so far but is still not the first choice midfielder at the club. The likes of Granit Xhaka, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil are all above him in the pecking order for the two places he prefers in the midfield. He is now reportedly growing frustrated with the lack of playing time at the Emirates and may not make too much of an effort to stay in England with the European Champions calling.
But the 25-year old will not walk straight into the starting XI at the Spanish capital with a host of talent already waiting in line. Zinedine Zidane, the manager at Real has used Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric as the midfield trio with James Rodriguez, Isco, Alvaro Morata and Marco Asensio all fighting for a non-existing spot. Though Rodriguez and Isco have been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season, Ramsey, who will make his debut in the La Liga, will surely take some time to cement a place in the starting lineup.
However, Real Madrid are desperate for his signature and are ready to offer £25m for his services (even with the transfer ban which is being appealed) and want to price him away at a time when he is not happy at his current club. Arsene Wenger is a patient manager and will give his players enough chances to prove himself and the fact that Ramsey is his first choice from the bench in more positions than one shows that Wenger has high hopes on the midfielder.
Having bought him as a 17-year old, Wenger will be reluctant to sell the player at the end of the season, especially with Ramsey entering a phase of his career that is supposed to be the best years for a football player. A move to the Bernabeu is often attractive with more money and loads of trophies on offer but Ramsey, if he is searching for regular football, is better advised to stay at the Emirates for a little longer. However, with his international team mate in Gareth Bale ready to pounce on him if necessary, Real may yet be able to lure him away from Arsenal.
Do you think Arsenal should let him go if Real Madrid are ready to pay his valuation?