Arsenal to “move quickly” for £15m forward after ex-Real Madrid scout’s advice

Arsenal could now swoop fast for a bargain forward signing after getting advice from a top former Real Madrid scout behind-the-scenes, according to an intriguing new report.

Arsenal set for season-defining Champions League tie against Real Madrid

Mikel Arteta called tonight’s clash with Real in the Champions League his biggest-ever game in management, which highlights the serious importance of their two-legged tie against the European champions.

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With nothing left to play for domestically and Liverpool on course to become Premier League champions, all eyes are on whether Arsenal can make history and upset Carlo Ancelotti’s Champions League heavyweights.

If Arsenal can knock Real out of the competition, they could even be considered favourites to win their first-ever Champions League title, and Arteta is taking tonight’s first leg very seriously.

“100%”, said Arteta when asked if their first game against Real is his biggest night in management.

“A joy to prepare the game, to look at them, just to look at the reaction of people and how we feel about ourselves coming into a game of this magnitude. The excitement around the club, the people, this is the stage that we want to be and where Arsenal has to be consistently. We are very proud to be there and now we’re very ready tomorrow to deliver.

“I think we deserve it [luck] but we have to earn it, and we have to earn it again tomorrow evening. We’re going to put all the ingredients, everything that is in our hands to play the game that we want and to take the game in the direction that we want. In order to achieve that, we’re going to need our people playing every single ball with us and that’s going to make a huge difference, because that’s something that is really needed.”

Attention is also turning to Andrea Berta’s first summer transfer window as their new sporting director, and the Italian is being helped by ex-Real scout Paolo Xavier behind the scenes.

Arsenal could “move quickly” for Vasco de Gama starlet Rayan

That is according to TEAMtalk, who state Arsenal have now joined the race for Vasco de Gama sensation Rayan.

The Brazil Under-20 international is apparently a recommendation of Xavier, who formerly worked at the Bernabeu and is now a “top” scout at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal could “move quickly” for Rayan after also learning that the South American forward has a tantalising £15 million release clause written into his contract, with Xavier identifying him as a target and the north Londoners “seriously” considering a deal.

However, they will indeed have to act fast, as Tottenham, Liverpool, Brighton, Bayern Munich and Fiorentina are all believed to have the teenager on their radar.

Nottingham Forest are also believed to be expressing an interest in Rayan, so this could turn out to be a pretty hectic battle for his signature this summer.