ARSENAL are still keeping an eye on Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos despite rejecting the chance to sign him permanently after a two-year loan spell.
According to reports, the Gunners are still interested in signing Ceballos, 25, who is yet to feature for Real Madrid so far this season.
El Nacional claim that Arsenal have been keeping tabs on Ceballos since his return to the Spanish capital and boss Mikel Arteta would be keen for a reunion.
Ceballos picked up an ankle injury in the summer which has kept him out of action so far this season.
And his return to fitness will come with the challenge of trying to get into a well established Real Madrid midfield under new boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian head coach usually plays a midfield three of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, with Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga in reserve.
And with Ceballos likely to play a mere supporting role in the Madrid squad, his long term future surely lies away from the Bernabeu.
It is claimed that Ceballos' boyhood club Real Betis are keen to bring him back to bolster their chances of making the top four this season.
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The Andalusian club are currently fifth in LaLiga under former Man City and West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini and Ceballos would reportedly be interested in a return.
Arsenal could face a crisis in midfield in January with Granit Xhaka injured and Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny both departing for the African Cup of Nations.
And with Ceballos' contract due to expire in June 2023 he could be available in a cut-price deal, though Jose Mourinho's Roma are also thought to be interested.
Real could be prepared to offload Ceballos in an effort to raise funds to support their double swoop for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the summer.
And in-form Arsenal could be a more attractive proposition than Betis or Roma, having won five of their last seven and going unbeaten in the league for two months.
Ceballos scored two goals and got five assists in his 77 games for the Gunners and was part of their FA Cup winning team in 2019-20.
But the Spaniard underwhelmed in his spell at the Emirates and he was allowed to return to his parent club after two disappointing Premier League seasons in North London.
Ceballos admitted shortly after leaving Arsenal that he struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, saying: “I like the Spanish league more, it suits my game better."
The club opted to sign his Real team-mate Martin Odegaard instead in a £34m deal, who has enjoyed a decent start to life since becoming a Gunner permanently.
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