[ad_pod ]

Arsenal have made contact with Real Madrid over the potential loan signing of James Rodriguez this month, as per The Independent.

The Gunners are keen to strengthen their squad this summer and have explored the possibility of recruiting the Colombia international, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich.

What's the word?

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has admitted that there is little money for Arsenal to spend in the January transfer window, accepting that the club are likely to be restricted to loan signings.

According to The Guardian, he said on January 10th: “We cannot sign permanently.

“We can only loan players. I know the club is working on possibilities of which players can help us with big performances like we need now. I cannot say more.”

Rodriguez is set to return to Madrid at the end of the season, but Bayern are not averse to allowing him to move to a new club on loan now, according to The Independent.

Arsenal and Napoli are both interested, with Real set to sell up in the summer, having spent £71million to sign him on the back of his excellent performances at the 2014 World Cup, as per BBC Sport.

Real are interested in signing both Eden Hazard and Christian Eriksen in the summer, from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, according to The Independent, and that will leave Rodriguez surplus to requirements.

However, the report claims that the club could potentially send the 27-year-old to Spurs instead in order to smooth over their mooted bid for Eriksen.

One man's trash is another's treasure

Arsenal fans can be forgiven for expressing their reservations over this transfer window when Emery revealed there was little money to spend. However, the acquisition of Rodriguez would go a long way to placating the baying hordes.

It has become clear that Emery does not believe Mesut Ozil can play a key role in his system, so the signing of the Colombian would help the Gunners click into a higher gear, where there is creative support for their two potent front-men - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Pl>ymaker FC believes Arsenal fans won't have to wait long to see Unai Emery's long-term ambitions for the club come to fruition. Watch the video below to find out why...

A six-month loan deal could potentially come with an obligation to buy, too, and that could prove to be a very smart piece of business for the club.

Supporters will hope this one gets over the line.