{statorium_team tid=9 sid=252 text="Arsenal"} look set to continue their love story with {statorium_team tid=37 sid=262 text="Real Madrid"} in the summer as they have set their eyes on {statorium_player pid=1830 sid=262 text="Ferland Mendy"} for a transfer.
The French defender, 28, has been with Los Blancos for five seasons after signing a six-year contract with the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners from French Ligue 1 side {statorium_team tid=61 sid=269 text="Olympique Lyonnais"}. He is entering the last year of his contract and there have been no concrete reports about a renewal for the Frenchman, making him a target for many clubs such as Arsenal.
Having signed the likes of Mesut Özil, {statorium_player pid=1063 sid=262 text="Dani Ceballos"} and {statorium_player pid=4356 sid=252 text="Martin Ødegaard"} from Madrid in recent times to great success, they are looking to pick off another Madrid player to strengthen their squad.
Mendy made the matchday squad but missed Sunday’s El Clasico with a little fitness issue. This has been his story for quite some time at the club now which makes the uncertainty around him swell.
Speculation about the LaLiga giant’s pursuit of {statorium_player pid=1418 sid=274 text="Alphonso Davies"} of {statorium_team tid=47 sid=274 text="Bayern Munich"} have also fuelled the rumours that Mendy will be the one to be sacrificed. The versatility of {statorium_player pid=2031 sid=262 text="Eduardo Camavinga"} and the backup option that is Fran Garcia seems to be enough for the Spanish giants to consider doing away with Mendy if they land Alonso.
Several clubs have picked up on this including Arsenal, who are reportedly making him an important option to strengthen their defence. This is all according to French reporters L’Equipe, who also report that the versatile {statorium_player pid=105 sid=252 text="Oleksandr Zinchenko"} could make way for Timber and Mendy to hold down the left-back slot at the Emirates for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, a player on loan at Arsenal for the 2023/24 season is getting lots of love from manager Mikel Arteta.
"Very, because we didn't concede anything up to that point,” Arteta began, answering the question about how his team played against {statorium_team tid=13 sid=252 text="Wolverhampton Wanderers"} in the Premier League on Saturday. “We had some very open situations that would have changed the game for sure.
"David was outstanding in that moment to make the save that we needed and then we took advantage. I think he's been very consistent throughout the whole season. The numbers are proof of that. I think the timing of the first goal was really helpful as well. Really happy."
Raya’s agent will most likely be calculating moves for the summer because the Spanish goalkeeper said he loves the atmosphere around the club. With the latest news coming out of France now, it could also cost Arsenal nothing much to keep Raya either permanently or temporarily for one more season to save transfer costs.