Rodrygo to Arsenal transfer given seal of approval as Mikel Arteta told to repeat Declan Rice trick

Arsenal should have no qualms about paying £20m or £30m over the odds to sign reported target Rodrygo from Real Madrid this summer, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes.

Speculation surrounding the Brazil international's future has been heating up over the past couple of weeks, and it has been reported that Arsenal are now showing a serious interest in signing him this summer.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is believed to be a huge fan of Rodrygo, who has registered 23 goal contributions from 50 appearances in the 2024-25 season but has been outshone by the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.

Reflecting on Arsenal paying a club-record £105m for Declan Rice back in 2025, Watts has urged the North London giants to adopt the same approach to potentially strike a deal for Rodrygo, whom he believes would help elevate the Gunners to new heights.

"A phrase that a lot of people don't like is market opportunity," Watts told Sports Mole. "It's crept into the language when it comes to transfers. But if you want a winger, and all of a sudden, Real Madrid make it known that Rodrygo is available, as a top club who have really lofty ambitions, you have to get into the conversation.

"You'd be pretty mad not to. I think there's still some decisions to be made from Rodrygo's side and Madrid in terms of what's going to happen. But you can't not be interested in Rodrygo. He's a very, very good player.

'Arsenal have to stretch budget for marquee signing Rodrygo'

"If they go out to the market and say he is available for £80m, £100m, Arsenal did it with Declan Rice. You've got a budget, but then things happen. If you've got a budget for your wedding, then suddenly your wife comes to you and says we've gone way over, can we have more money? You just do it.

"When you're buying a house, you always end up going over and you just do it. You've got a budget for this transfer window, but if someone like Rodrygo becomes available and you have to stretch yourselves an extra £20m, £30m, you've just got to do it.

"He would improve Arsenal massively. The options you could have, a marquee signing that would lift everyone, the excitement it would bring. It's one of those market opportunities that if it happens, go for it."

A new wide man is just one of four priorities for new Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta in the summer transfer market, as Arsenal will also be targeting a new centre-forward, new goalkeeper and new defensive midfielder, and Rodrygo would represent a young, versatile option.

Another 2001-born Brazilian whom the Gunners are said to have their eye on is Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro, as it has been claimed that Arsenal are one of a few sides who have taken a liking to the £50m-rated 23-year-old.

Pedro has had a direct hand in 16 goals from 27 Premier League appearances for Brighton in the 2024-25 season - 10 of his own and six assists - and could occupy either a central or wide role in Arteta's system.

Why Arsenal should steer clear of Pedro signing

© Imago

However, the South American tends to operate best just behind the centre-forward in a second striker slot, a role that Arteta does not tend to utilise, and Martin Odegaard is Arsenal's undisputed creator-in-chief.

As a result, Watts is not on board with the Gunners pursuing Pedro's signature in place of a striker or left-winger, but he would be receptive to Arsenal making a move if they could bring in players in the two aforementioned positions as well as the Brighton man.

"This one doesn't float my boat," he added. "I like Joao Pedro. He's one of those players that catches the eye, I think he's a nice, tidy footballer. He'd probably get sent off a fair few times for Arsenal! But I look at what Arsenal need, I look at Joao Pedro and his attributes, it's not one that really excites me.

"The only way I'd really get behind that signing if Arsenal bought a number nine, bought a wide attacker and then bought Joao Pedro. If he'd be coming in instead of one of those two other positions, it wouldn't make any sense. I just don't think he's what Arsenal needs.

"I think he's a good player, but when you look at the money that Brighton would no doubt want for him, I just can't really get behind that one."

Watts also delivered his latest knowledge of Arsenal's striker situation, and revealed his one "big fear" if the Gunners go for Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres over RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko this summer.

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Written by
Ben Knapton