Dani Ceballos is expected to return to Real Madrid at the end of his current loan spell at Arsenal.
The Spain midfielder has spent the last two seasons at the Emirates Stadium and is in line to make his 50th Premier League appearance in next week’s game at Crystal Palace.
Ceballos, 24, had found first-team opportunities limited at Real Madrid before joining the Gunners in 2019 on a season-long loan – a move that was then replicated for the current campaign.
🔴⚪️ +3! Great victory yesterday 💪⚽️Now we have to keep working to win all 3 remaining matches! Wednesday, more! Let's go Gunners! 🙌🏻@Arsenal#PremierLeague#VamosGunnerspic.twitter.com/Q5iN71fl5C— Daniel Ceballos (@DaniCeballos46) May 10, 2021
He was sent off in the first leg of Arsenal’s Europa League semi-final defeat to Villarreal and was an unused substitute in Wednesday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Chelsea as Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny were preferred in midfield.
But the PA news agency understands Ceballos will not stay at Arsenal beyond the summer with neither a third loan nor a permanent transfer likely.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal technical staff will need to be smart in the transfer market with the club not expected to splash out on new players without recouping funds from sales.
That means a move for Ceballos was always unlikely, while Madrid feel they could command a bigger fee for Ceballos if they can find a buyer in LaLiga.
'Arsenal are crapping themselves: they're scared to take advantage of the opportunity they’ve been given this season. When you look at the chances they are missing the answer is obvious': former Gunners captain delivers brutal assessment of title hopes
'You find out who you are being inducted alongside, you're like 'okay that is interesting, I am going to be onstage with three people who potentially think I am not their favourite person': Referee Rebecca Welch on WSL Hall of Fame induction
