Arsenal transfer news: Luka Modric, Nicolas Tagliafico, Cengiz Under, Suso

Modric on the move?

Not surprisingly, the return of Zinedine Zidane to Real Madrid has excited the transfer rumour mill.

While most of the gossip has centred on who the Frenchman will bring to the Bernabeu in the summer, Football.London speculates about which players will be moved on by Zidane as he overhauls the under-performing Real squad.

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Welsh forward Gareth Bale is widely tipped to be jettisoned, but apparently Croatian midfielder Luka Modric will also be asked to vacate his locker for Eden Hazard and Christian Eriksen.

Arsenal or Inter

Although Inter Milan have been linked with 33-year-old Modric, Football.London claims that Arsenal are on his tail and the Gunners are confident that his love of London could be a key factor in his decision making.

Reigning Ballon d’Or holder Modric made his name with Tottenham, and Arsenal head coach Unai Emery believes he still has two or three good seasons left in the tank, and is a natural replacement for the departing Aaron Ramsey.

Defensive overhaul

Gunners boss Emery is set to shake up his gaffe-prone defence this summer, reports the Metro, with Nacho Monreal and Shkodran Mustafi both likely to be shown the door at the Emirates.

In their place, Emery wants to bring in Ajax full-back Nicolas Tagliafico, who has earned rave reviews this season from Arsenal scouts.

Worryingly, however, Spanish newspaper Marca claims that Tagliafico is “attracting interest from a number of top European clubs” with both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid keen to sign the 26-year-old defender.

Apparently Ajax are demanding a £17m fee for the Argentine international, a modest sum for a player with such a burgeoning reputation, and one that is within Arsenal’s transfer budget.

Sweet on Suso?

Arsenal are monitoring AC Milan forward Suso, claims the Daily Mirror, in the event that they fail to prise Cengiz Under from Roma.

Turkish star Under, 21, remains Emery’s preferred option in the summer transfer market, but The Sun says that he has sent his scouts twice to Milan in recent weeks to run the rule over the 25-year-old Suso.

The Spaniard, who failed to make the grade at Liverpool, has thrived since joining Milan in 2015 and he is likely to be Arsenal’s plan B in June.