Micah Richards thinks ‘top player’ who’s held talks with Arsenal is genuinely about to leave his club

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Although Arsenal are yet to welcome a new signing to the club, new sporting director Andrea Berta seems to be making serious progress behind the scenes.

Martin Zubimendi is set to join Arsenal, even if that is a deal which mostly predates Berta’s arrival at the Emirates — one that Edu Gaspar and Jason Ayto deserve a lot of credit for.

Berta’s task will predominantly be to sign Arsenal a new striker and left winger to accompany Zubimendi on the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Asia.

Real Sociedad’s Zubimendi is a world-class addition, and Arsenal will need to find similar level of talent to improve their attack, the area of Mikel Arteta’s squad which arguably needs the most work.

And whilst Arsenal are torn between Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko up top, a clear candidate is emerging for the left side of their attack.

Micah Richards thinks Rodrygo will leave Real Madrid after Arsenal links

Given that the Real Madrid star might be available this summer, Arsenal are ready to pay big money to sign Rodrygo, a Brazilian superstar playing his football in the Spanish capital.

In fact, TBR Football have previously revealed that Arsenal have held talks with Rodrygo’s camp, a move that is looking more and more possible by the week.

And when speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast, pundit Micah Richards thought Rodrygo’s departure from Real Madrid was looking probable.

Speaking alongside Gary Lineker, Richards confessed that he genuinely thought the Brazilian could leave.

READ MORE: Rodrygo has already named ‘the best’ club in England and it wasn’t Arsenal

He said: “Rodrygo said he doesn’t want to play on the right, didn’t he? I think that’s where the frustration is coming from. Everyone wants to play on the left, even though they’re right footed.”

Lineker then replied: “The thing is, if he doesn’t want to play for the right, he ain’t getting in on the left, is he, with the players they’ve got?”

Richards: “Well, that’s what I mean. I think he could leave in the summer, you know, Rodrygo. I really believe he could leave. He’s a top player, top player.”

Lineker: “He’s been linked with Arsenal, actually, hasn’t he, Rodrygo?”

Richards: “Yeah, he has been linked with Arsenal.”

Lineker: “They’ve got obviously Martinelli, but he’s not really trained on, I don’t think, to the expectations that perhaps we thought.”

Richards: “Yeah, agreed. I think that’s fair. I think Rodrygo would fit in really good in the Arsenal system, for sure.”

How much would Rodrygo cost Arsenal this summer?

According to TBR Football’s information, Real Madrid could be willing to accept a bid of around £70m for Rodrygo this summer.

Real do believe that their forward is worth closer to the £100m mark in reality, but they are being ‘realistic’ about their valuation.

And it could be a former Arsenal target who actually helps Rodrygo on his way to the Emirates, Arda Guler.

Arsenal wanted to sign Guler but that no longer looks possible given that he’s emerged as a clear favourite of new manager Xabi Alonso’s already.

And given that Guler could often demand a spot in the starting eleven, Rodrygo might find himself on the bench more times than he cares for.

A superb talent, and one who Arsenal would be seriously lucky to sign.