---
title: "Arsenal: Unai Emery played key role as club near Ceballos swoop"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-unai-emery-played-key-role-as-club-near-ceballos-swoop/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-07-20T04:20:44Z"
modified: "2019-07-20T04:20:44Z"
---

# Arsenal: Unai Emery played key role as club near Ceballos swoop

**Spanish outlet [El Confidencial](https://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/2019-07-18/ceballos-arsenal-real-madrid-lo-celso-eriksen-tottenham_2130811/) have outlined the role in which Arsenal boss Unai Emery has played in nearing a deal to bring Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos to The Emirates this summer.**

With Ceballos thought to be close to joining The Gunners on a loan deal, El Confidencial report (via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-foot-half-arsenal-transfer-emery-persistence/)) that a breakdown in negotiations with Tottenham allowed Arsenal – and in particular, Emery – to swoop in and bring the Spaniard to the other side of North London.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

It is thought that Madrid president Florentino Perez remains a fan of the player and was therefore unwilling to sanction a permanent transfer to Arsenal’s arch-rivals.

However, with the player himself reportedly demanding to play around [40 games](https://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/2019-07-18/ceballos-arsenal-real-madrid-lo-celso-eriksen-tottenham_2130811/) next season, Emery is said to have called Ceballos and tempted him to make an Emirates Stadium switch by convincing him that he will be an  ‘important piece’ of his side next year.

Sport Witness described Emery as being ‘obsessed’ with securing the services of the 22-year-old, albeit on a temporary basis.

Various reports earlier this week suggested that Real Madrid would [entertain a loan move](https://en.as.com/en/2019/07/16/football/1563272551_821576.html) for Ceballos – [without the option to buy](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fichajes/20190716/463519502945/ceballos-real-madrid-arsenal.html), while the player is unlikely to gain the amount of first-team football he is after at Real Madrid, with the midfielder not thought to be a central part of Zinedine Zidane’s plans at the Bernabeu, according to [El Confidencial](https://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/2019-06-25/real-madrid-bale-ceballos-james-zidane-florentino_2086318/).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

It looks as if Emery has taken full advantage of Spurs’ failure to do a deal with Real Madrid over Ceballos, who recently won the [Under-21 European Championships](https://www.skysports.com/football/spain-u21-vs-germany-u21/403096) with Spain.

[Aaron Ramsey](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48823507) has departed for Juventus this summer, so there may well be a slot within the Arsenal squad for Ceballos to step into.

And with The Gunners’ financial resources reportedly [stretched](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48278922) this summer, loaning the midfielder may turn out to be a risk-free gamble worth taking for Emery and Arsenal.

***Arsenal fans, will Ceballos improve Emery’s squad? Join the discussion by commenting below…***