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This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

Arsenal look set to sign Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid.

Sky Sports reports that the club are closing in on a deal for the Spanish midfielder, with manager Zinedine Zidane simply needing to confirm the move.

Tottenham Hotspur were also said to be interested but the Daily Mirror reports that they are allowing their north London rivals to win the race because “they had no intention of being used as a platform”.

Indeed, Football FanCast sources confirmed earlier in the transfer window that Spurs were in talks over a loan deal but wanted to include a purchase option that would have stood at £45m.

Arsenal do not appear to have struck a deal with a permanent option and as such, Spurs were absolutely right to pull out.

A move for the Spain Under-21 international, who won the European Championships with his country in the summer, would have strengthened the club’s midfield ranks and added an extra dimension to their summer recruitment.

While the deal will not have cost all that much up front, it may well have motivated Ceballos to earn his stripes in north London and work his way to a permanent contract.

As it is, he is set for a brief sojourn in north London as he is said to believe he can get more first-team opportunities at the Emirates Stadium.

That is probably true as he would have been up against the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen for a starting berth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But it also speaks to a questionable mentality and a suggestion that he doesn’t quite have the stomach for the fight at Spurs.

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Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly very keen to bring Ceballos in, even discussing a move with the player, but letting Arsenal win the race now feels like the right move.

Had they not, Ceballos would have used the club as a stepping stone, returning to Real for the 2020/21 season as he looks to establish himself in La Liga.

Arsenal have been played; he will simply use the club to raise his own profile in pursuit of his own goals.

Spurs have seen through the ruse.