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Inside Spain: Arsenal and Liverpool plan moves in Spain, is trouble brewing at Real Madrid?

Inside Spain is a weekly edition of Football España that offers an insight into all the key stories from the exciting and thrilling climate of La Liga and beyond.

There is never a dull moment at Barcelona. The Catalans had no intention of getting rid of Ilkay Gundogan this summer, but with their attempts to sell Ronald Araujo, Ansu Fati, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha all coming to a dead end, something had to be given up.

Gundogan will return to Manchester City and Barcelona fans may be wondering what he is being sacrificed for. Dani Olmo is highly regarded but they have plenty of options at number 10. Elsewhere they have been linked with Federico Chiesa at Juventus and Marc Pubill at Almeria at right-back.

Some wonder if Barcelona will improve. Vitor Roque, who was signed in January, is also moving to Real Betis on loan for 30 million euros – more than enough to cover Gündogan's salary. Other players could be shipped out, and Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are being linked with one of their defenders.

Atletico Madrid handed over Conor Gallagher, Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth to a roaring Metropolitano, and their summer spending of €183.5 million is currently around three times that of Barcelona.

Liverpool are close to signing Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia for €35 million, although he will remain at the Mestalla for at least another season. Further north, Arsenal look set to finally complete a deal for Mikel Merino this week. However, they are still working on Aaron Ramsdale's exit and will spend €30 million on his replacement from Espanyol if it happens.

Despite their off-field problems, Barcelona sit top of the table alongside Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano after beating Valencia. Atletico Madrid drew 2-2 with Villarreal and Real Madrid failed to beat RCD Mallorca on Kylian Mbappe's debut, finishing 1-1, but realistically they could have lost.

Carlo Ancelotti complained that his team lacked balance, effort and attitude, which came as no surprise to many after Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes were all in the starting line-up. If anyone was to be eliminated, most would bet on Rodrygo. He scored the goal against Mallorca, and it was a brilliant one. Rodrygo, who disappeared from the BMV headlines last week, made his anger very clear in a WhatsApp message. The rumors of a possible exit next summer are getting louder.

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