Arsenal, Man City and Newcastle could all converge on a star Real Madrid are surprisingly warming to the idea of selling this summer, per a report.
Arsenal and Man City are going toe-to-toe in the league this season, though their battle may soon extend into the transfer market too.
That’s according to a report out of Spain (as cited by Goal), with both clubs – along with Newcastle – sizing up Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy.
The left-back, 27, remains an integral figure for Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu. However, concerns over the Frenchman picking up more and more injuries in recent times is making Real pause for thought.
Indeed, the outlet claims that with Fran Garcia poised to re-join Real at season’s end after three years at Rayo Vallecano, Mendy’s time in Madrid may soon be up.
It’s stated that at present, Mendy’s future looks ‘more outside than inside the Santiago Bernabéu’. In other words, he’s more likely to leave than stay this summer.
If Real do pull the trigger and cash in on a player they signed from Lyon in 2019 for €53m, it’s noted they hope to generate a profit.
To that end, Real won’t greenlight a sale unless offers of €60m-plus are bid. But per the report, that valuation isn’t likely to deter Arsenal, City or Newcastle.
Indeed, all three clubs are namechecked in the piece and the trio would ‘value offering close to 60 million euros’ to get a deal done.
Mendy coup to oust Tierney or Cancelo?
All three English sides have been heavily linked with making moves at left-back this summer. In the cases of Arsenal and City, a Mendy arrival would likely spell the end of one of two high profile stars.
Indeed, Joao Cancelo was surprisingly turfed out on loan to Bayern Munich in January. Pep Guardiola now operates with Nathan Ake on the left side of his defence, with Cancelo surplus to requirements even if Bayern don’t take up the hefty €70m option to buy.
At the Emirates, meanwhile, Kieran Tierney’s future is under a cloud following the summer arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Ukraine ace is Mikel Arteta’s undisputed No 1 in the position and trusted reporter Ben Jacobs previously told TEAMtalk Tierney is among those who could leave this summer.
Football Insider believe Newcastle will bid for Tierney – who’s valued around the £30m mark – if given the greenlight. The Athletic later doubled down on Newcastle’s interest in the Scotland international.
As such, if Arsenal were to move for Ferland Mendy, Tierney could conceivably be given the nod to join Newcastle, leaving just Man City as the only empty-handed club from the three.