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Report: Arsenal reach agreement to sign Ceballos on loan

Nick Potts - EMPICS / PA Images / Getty

Arsenal are finally kicking things into high gear this summer.

Relatively quiet during the transfer window - the Gunners' lone signing thus far is Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli - Unai Emery's side has struck a deal with Real Madrid to nab dynamic midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan for the upcoming season, reports David Ornstein of the BBC.

It's unclear if Arsenal will have an option to make the move permanent.

Ceballos, 22, is fresh off helping Spain capture the European Under-21 Championship last month; he scored twice during the competition, chipping in with a pair of assists along the way.

He's largely found playing time hard to come by since moving to the Bernabeu from Real Betis in 2017, but his explosive dribbling and playmaking abilities have consistently come to the fore when he does get on the pitch.

Where he'll fit into Emery's plans remains to be seen, but the addition of an attacking midfielder almost certainly signals more bad news for Mesut Ozil, who often found himself on the bench at the Emirates last season despite nominally being the club's primary creative force.

In addition to Ceballos, Ornstein notes Arsenal will finally clinch the signing of highly touted teenage center-back William Saliba this week. The 18-year-old, who will reportedly cost £27 million, will remain on loan with Saint-Etienne for the 2019-20 campaign.

Both Ceballos and Saliba had been linked with a potential move to Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham in recent weeks.

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