Arsenal are finally expected to confirm their first signing of January today as they are set to strengthen their defensive options.
The club has moved fairly slowly this month but in fairness, so has the entire market. There have been no noticeable additions to any Premier League club yet but with the final week of the transfer window upon us, things are set to heat up.
And Arsenal look set to kick off the final week with the Copa Libertadores winner Pablo Mari. The details of the deal vary depending on whether you look at the Brazilian press of English press. The English press insists the deal for Mari is initially a loan deal, with the option in the summer to make it permanent for £7.5million.
26-year-old Mari has an interesting past, he was contracted to Manchester City during Arteta’s spell at the club, but never actually made an appearance for them and was consistently sent out on loan.
26-year-old Spanish defender Pablo Mari is set to undergo a medical at Arsenal tomorrow. The left footed defender stands at 6ft 3' and arrived in London with Edu today. #AFC pic.twitter.com/KGROjC9BPZ
— Fresh Arsenal (@Fresh_Arsenal) January 25, 2020
In the last year Mari has been playing for Flamengo in Brazil, and the 6ft 3′ defender has been excelling, hence the Gunners interest in him.
The key attributes Mari brings to the squad is the fact that he is left-footed, tall and good on the ball. On paper, he appears to suit Arteta’s style and address some of the squad’s deficiencies.