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Arsenal embroiled in loony rumour and the window’s not even open

| 23.03.2016

Zany transfer links are commonplace during transfer windows, as player sightings and helicopter landings get reported on across the land.

Out of peak silly season, rumours tend to be of a more run-of-the-mill nature. However, Real Madrid appear intent on breaking free from those mundane chains and have cooked up a get-rich quick scheme that involves Arsenal.

The plan centres around selling Alvaro Morata to the Gunners for about £40m. If you think that is a complete non-starter, because Los Blancos don’t even own the striker anymore, then you’d be right.

But, shrewd thinkers that the Spaniards are, they’ve already thought about that and have an answer: a buy-back clause.

When selling their young home-grown striker to Juventus for £15m two summers ago, Madrid worked an angle on the deal that would allow them to buy Morata back for £23m.

Within the terms, Real were given two specific windows when they could trigger the clause. Those were between July 1st and 15th in either 2016 or 2017.

According to Spanish publication AS, the club are preparing to jump at the first chance to re-sign their former star, but won’t be doing so to jettison him into first-team action.

Instead, they’ll ship him back out to an interested suitor, thought to be Arsenal, for £40m and recoup another tidy profit.

Bayern Munich are another potential taker for the six-cap international, although AS report that the north Londoners are the keener of the pursuing pair.

Having seen a golden opportunity to win the Premier League for the first time in an age start to slip away – Ladbrokes now make them 11/2 third favourites to claim the top-flight title – Arsene Wenger’s club appear set on upgrading their front line.

Only Olivier Giroud has reached double figures for league goals this season and the thinking is that further investment is needed if the Gunners are to claim another league trophy.

By way of Real Madrid, again, perhaps Morata is that man?

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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Author

Matt Wiggins

No idyllic sound comes close to leather on willow for Matt, whose previous experience includes stints with Spin Magazine and Surrey County Cricket Club. It's not just cricket that interests him though, with football, golf, tennis and any American sport not played on ice all high on his list of favourites.