Arsenal plan £53m bid for Real Madrid midfielder

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly prepared to make a £53m bid in order to lure midfielder Luka Modric from Real Madrid at the end of the season.

The Croatia international has been highlighted among the players, who may leave the Bernabeu during the summer with Los Blancos Florentino Perez planning a major overhaul of the squad.

As a result, the 32-year-old is said to favour another big-club move before his playing career ends, and Arsenal have emerged as potential candidates due to the midfielder's preference to return to London, Don Balon claims.

Wenger has shown reluctance to spend big on players previously, but the transfer policy appears to have changed of late with the Gunners willing to pay as much as £53m for the Croatian's signature.

Arsenal have lacked the presence of an orchestrator in midfield, who could perform the role of the injured Santi Cazorla, and Modric appears the prime option to reinforce the position.

Arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur may have a say on the Gunners' potential attempt to sign their former player during the summer, though it is unclear whether they can match their counterparts financially.