Liverpool's Rodrygo transfer stance 'revealed' as Arsenal accelerate £187m spending plan

If Arsenal want to sign Rodrygo, they could yet find themselves in a transfer battle with the Premier League champions Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta's plan to strengthen his Gunners squad is midway through being enacted. So far £123m has been spent on four recruits - Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

There are still intentions to draft in more as the club seek to finalise their £63.7million agreement with Sporting CP for striker Viktor Gyokeres, which would take the club's spending to just shy of £187m.

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As the attack was the area under pressure through injuries, form and their final goalscoring return, Arsenal continue to be linked with some of the globe's top talent with one end goal in mind - becoming champions of England.

For two seasons Arteta's men fought tooth and nail to take top spot but were forcibly kept off by Manchester City. The one season Pep Guardiola's side opened the door to the English title and the Gunners faltered too, allowing Liverpool to storm their way to the top.

So Rodrygo, still only 24 years of age with a vast array of experiences performing and winning trophies over six years at Real Madrid, is one tipped be a difference maker if he were to turn out in Arsenal's colours next term.

However, they may be presented with difficulty winning an off-field squabble with Liverpool for Rodrygo.

Reporter Lewis Steele for The Daily Mail, speaking via his personal channel, claims sources in Madrid with relationships to the Brazil international's representatives say Liverpool's stance is that they are 'keen' on the player.

Rodrygo was a talent who first emerged on the radar at Anfield as a 16-year-old, only for him to turn them down and later join Los Blancos. This a story the winger has personally recounted of the failed 2017 attempt.

To Arsenal's benefit, it is said no direct conversations have taken place, so for now the situation remains just 'one to keep an eye on'.

According to Steele, Liverpool may also have to look into outgoings before they can consider there being space for Rodrygo to join their squad, perhaps affording their rivals extra time that could prove vital.

The coming weeks seem as if they will be crucial in Rodrygo's saga as after the FIFA Club World Cup, his place in Madrid was uncertain.

The winger started only once, made two substitute appearances and was left on the bench three times at the tournament in the United States. It hardly inspired confidence that new boss Xabi Alonso would give him the opportunity to thrive that Carlo Ancelotti had not done towards the end of his tenure.