It’s no secret now that Arsenal’s transfer budget is absolutely lacklustre for a club of their size, yet that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from churning out links with players that are simply too expensive.

As football.london report, the Gunners budget this summer is just a measly £45 million, and after a season where the club not only missed out on top-four in the Premier League but were also embarrassed in the Europa League final by Chelsea, Arsenal are in desperate need of a refresh this summer, but with such limited finances any hope of a rebuild is fruitless unless players are sold, and this method of recouping funds is likely the only way Unai Emery will be able to lure Dani Ceballos to the Emirates.

This is according to AS via Sport Witness, who claim that Arsenal are willing to pay Real Madrid the £44.66 million it will take to prize the Spanish U-21 midfielder to north London this summer, and although there is no question that Ceballos would be a player who would suit the Gunners down to a tee given his style of play and creative abilities as per I News, a few names would have to leave north London first before a move can even be thought about.

Remember, Arsenal have been prioritising a defender for the majority of the transfer window, with the likes of Kieran Tierney and William Saliba both looking likely to join the club this summer according to BBC Sport and L'Equipe respectively, and although Ceballos would be a welcome addition given how poor Mesut Ozil has been over the past two seasons, improving the defence remains the main goal for this window.

If Arsenal are able to offload an Ozil or Henrikh Mkhitaryan, two players who Emery is reportedly keen on selling this summer as per the Mirror, going in for Ceballos would make sense, but with the £45 million budget in mind, the Los Blancos youngster remains just too far out of the Gunners reach financially.

Arsenal fans, would Ceballos be a good signing? Let us know!