ARSENAL are ready to pull the plug on Dani Ceballos’ loan at the end of the season as they have no plans to sign him permanently, according to reports.
The playmaker is on loan at the Gunners from Real Madrid and looks set to head back to the Bernabeu sooner rather than later.
The Spanish international has endured a difficult, stop-start season at the Emirates.
And as a result, Mikel Arteta will let the 23-year-old head back to his homeland at the end of the season, according to Spanish outlet El Confidential.
The Gunners hope to reach an agreement with Real to keep Ceballos until the current Premier League season can be completed but they have no intention of keeping him for 2020/21.
Having arrived under fellow Spaniard Unai Emery, Ceballos was a regular either from the start or off the bench early on in the season.
But a lengthy spell on the sidelines injured coincided with Emery being sacked and Arteta coming in.
Ceballos was unable to add to his one goal and two assists – both of which came on his home debut against Burnley – before the season was suspended.
However he did start to get a run in the team, starting the last three Premier League games and helping the Gunners to wins over Newcastle, Everton and West Ham.
Zinedine Zidane is thought to be willing to let Ceballos go when he does return to Real Madrid, with Real Betis and Juventus also reportedly keen.
But Emery thinks he can have a positive impact at the Emirates when football returns.
He recently said: “Dani is a player who has excellent qualities and an incredible mentality – he wants to succeed.
“For Arsenal it was a great market opportunity.
“He played with me, then he was injured and he was out for a long time, he has recovered and now, when the league resumes, he will certainly demonstrate his qualities again.”
