Conte's Spurs face Real Madrid in transfer race for ex-Arsenal star

James Shearman

• Updated: 24 Apr 2022 16:24 BST
• 3 min read

Antonio Conte's Tottenham face stiff competition from La Liga leaders Real Madrid in the race to sign ex-Arsenal star Serge Gnabry.

Gnabry signed for Arsenal at 16 year of age, for £100,000, making just 18-first team appearances before he was sold to Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.

Then, just a season later, Bayern Munich activated a reported €8 million clause in the German's contract, though he was initially sent on loan to Hoffenheim.

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Since then, Gnabry has scored 45 league goals in just four seasons at the Allianz Arena, becoming one of the Bavarian club's key players.

He also scored four goals against Spurs in a 7-2 away win in the Champions League three years ago.

However, the 26-year-old's contract runs our at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, meaning he could be sold in this summer's transfer window.

Bayern are hopeful of signing him to a new deal but, according to the Daily Star, he is holding out for wages of £250,000 per week.

As such, the Bundesliga holders could be forced into selling Gnabry for a cut-price fee to avoid losing him for nothing.

Gnabry to Real Madrid?

Real Madrid have already contacted Gnabry's representatives ahead of a potential move, according to Goal.

This could be a sign that the club are starting to doubt whether Kylian Mbappe will opt to leave Paris Saint-Germain for the Spanish capital this summer. He has said that he is open to staying at Parc des Princes.

Unlike the Frenchman, Gnabry would cost a transfer fee, as he is not to become a free agent until next year. But his wage demands, albeit high, are significantly lower.

And, while he isn't in consideration for being the best player in the world, he has proven himself in the Champions League.

So Real could do a lot worse than to sign the German, should Mbappe stay in France, and with Eden Hazard likely to depart.

Another factor is Gnabry's close relationship with David Alaba, who made the switch from Munich to Madrid last summer.

The former Arsenal man has remained close friends with Alaba since his departure and has even visited the defender in his new home.