Arsenal in race against time to agree 'complicated' Nico Paz transfer

Arsenal will find it "very difficult" to get ahead of Real Madrid in the race to sign Como midfielder Nico Paz, sources have told Football Insider.

The Spanish giants have a buy-back clause on the attacking midfielder that is set at the £68.7million mark, which comes into effect next summer.

The 22-year-old is being monitored by several of Europe's elite clubs, but it is Real who are in the "box seat" to secure his future at the moment.

Sources say that it will be a "complicated" deal for Arsenal to do, especially once Real's buy-back option comes into play at the end of the season.

The option of a January move for Paz remains on the cards in order to beat that buy-back clause, but that would require a huge financial commitment in the middle of the season.

The starlet shone with 20 goal contributions for Como last term, and he already has a goal and three assists from his first five games this time around.

Real Madrid hold huge influence over Nico Paz

Paz has developed significantly since he left Real Madrid's academy setup to join Como back in 2024, but his boyhood club have retained a huge influence over his future.

Jose Mourinho's side were heavily linked with a move to bring the starlet back to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, but ultimately opted to let him stay at Como for another year at his own request.

However, the buy-back clause came as part of that agreement, and it effectively means that Paz's long-term future remains in Real's hands.

Arsenal's admiration of the attacking midfielder is clear to see, but it will be difficult for them to bypass Madrid's clause.

Their best chance of doing that would be to make a move for Paz before it comes into effect, but that would undoubtedly alert several clubs across Europe.

Ex-refs chief hits out at Bukayo Saka

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider on Monday that Bukayo Saka should not have been awarded a penalty during Arsenal's win over Sunderland last weekend.

The England international had his shirt pulled by Reinildo, but appeared to go down in stages, with a penalty ultimately being awarded, despite the initial contact coming outside the box.

Reinildo also received a second yellow card for the incident, a decision with Hackett believes to be a clear error from referee John Brooks.

Hackett believes that Reinildo's challenge was not even a foul, and feels that Saka went down far too easily.