Arsenal turn attentions to ex-Real Madrid wonderkid after bid rejected for Mikel Arteta's top target

Arsenal have reportedly switched their attentions to a former Real Madrid wonderkid after seeing a bid turned down for Mikel Arteta's top transfer target.

The Gunners have completed significant business so far in the window, including a £75 million move to sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Winger Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge for around £35 million, while Arsenal activated a £34.5 million obligation to buy clause in the loan contract of Piero Hincapie to sign him permanently from Bayer Leverkusen.

But another forward is clearly still on the agenda after Arsenal's failed pursuit of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, while Arteta wants another defender to be added.

Spanish outlet AS reported on Thursday that the Gunners were interested in signing Marc Pubill from Atletico Madrid, but were told he was not for sale after an initial enquiry.

READ MORE: Arsenal ready to 'break the bank' to sign La Liga star with huge release clause

Pubill, who can play at right-back or centre-back, has a release clause worth €500 million, though all Spanish top flight clubs must insert a release clause into every player's contract and they are often inflated far above actual market values to prevent other teams from triggering them.

The 23-year-old's future does not appear to be linked to that of another Arsenal target in Cristian Romero, with the Spurs captain set to join Atletico for a fee of £34.2 million.

READ MORE: Cristian Romero confirms his own Spurs exit before club can announce it with 286-word statement

The Gunners are therefore looking elsewhere, and Sky Sports report that they have opened talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a move for Jarell Quansah after their efforts to agree a deal with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa stalled.

But a new name has been thrown into the mix - though a transfer may be slightly more complicated to complete.

Arsenal targeting surprise move for Serie A star

Journalist Ben Jacobs claims that Arsenal have identified Como centre-back Jacobo Ramon as a possible alternative, with the 21-year-old having impressed during his debut season in Serie A last term.

Standing at 6ft 5in tall, the Spaniard made 32 appearances in Italy's top flight last term, scoring two goals.

Ramon was part of Real Madrid's academy and progressed through their ranks, going on to make six appearances in all competitions for the first team during the 2024/25 campaign.

Jacobo Ramon was one of Serie A's top defenders last season (Image: Getty)

It was something of a surprise, therefore, that Como only needed to pay a fee of €2.5 million to sign him on a permanent basis.

But it is from there that the Spain youth international centre-back's case becomes slightly more complex.

Following his arrival at Como, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Real had negotiated an agreement whereby they could bring Ramon back to the club over the following three seasons for a fee of €8 million.

They will also receive 50 per cent of any future transfer fee that Como receive, if the Italian club decide to sell - meaning Como will no doubt be holding out for a bid of significant value.

In May, Ramon told Gazzetta dello Sport that he planned to stay at Como: "I see myself here. Yes."

It is the same deal structure that saw another Real wonderkid, Nico Paz, move to Como last summer.

Real were also able to pay €8 million to re-sign the Argentinian this summer, but that option has now expired. Paz will remain at Como for at least another season, at the end of which Real can pay a slightly higher fee of €9 million.

Should that option expire and Paz spend a further season with the Italian club, Real can then pay €10 million before the option expires entirely. It is unclear as to whether the same applies to Ramon.