Arsenal could be about to add to their ranks with an unlikely arrival in the near future, in the form of Colombia’s James Rodriguez.

Even stranger is the fact he could join for just £3m, albeit on loan. The news broke in the Guardian recently and it’s certainly a deal that Arsenal would do well to pull off.

Rodriguez exploded onto the scene in the 2014 World Cup, bagging himself the Golden Boot as his country looked likely to go all the way. That didn’t happen – they were inevitably eliminated – but the exciting attacking midfielder had set himself up for the next few years.

He made a massive move to Real Madrid from Monaco and looked set to take the world by storm. Since then, his reputation has floundered somewhat, with four uninspiring years all leading him towards the possible Arsenal switch.

He’s currently on loan with Bayern Munich with a view to a permanent move, but they’re not so keen on making that happen. Instead, they’ll be willing to let him join Arsenal if the Gunners cover the outstanding £3m of the £11.5m fee they paid Real Madrid simply to have him at the Allianz Arena.

It’s an interesting proposition that could lead Mesut Ozil out of the door. The German is out of favour with new manager Unai Emery and although he doesn’t covet a move away from the club, he’s likely to be handed one anyway. Rodriguez would fill the role behind the striker that Ozil enjoys playing in, but could he be a success?

 

Arsenal are not thought to be capable of attaining a top-four finish if the latest Premier League betting markets are to be believed. There’s an air of consolidation under the new manager, a train of thought that a new era must be born and isn’t created overnight.

Whilst a temporary move for Rodriguez isn’t planning for the future, his style could well be right for the English game. He hasn’t thrived in Spain or Germany, but he did impress in Ligue 1 with Monaco and still does the business when pulling on the yellow of Colombia.

He’s still only 27 years old and could still have his best years ahead of him, with the English game suited to his talents. He’s an instinctive player, the sort who overthinks things in a slower-paced environment like Germany or Spain. In England, where there’s less time on the ball, he’d have to rely on his natural ability far more.