In recent days Arsenal have been linked heavily with a new Brazilian transfer target and it’s now believed a bid is imminent.
The heavily reliable and attentive Charles Watts from Goal has piggybacked on a story from his colleague in Brazil, Thiago Fernandes, who has released an exclusive report.
The story has outlined that Arsenal are very interested in signing Lyon midfielder, Lucas Paqueta, and Edu Gaspar has made that very clear to the players’ entourage.
During his transfer update episode on YouTube, Watts backed up the story that was released on Tuesday evening and described Fernandes as a “very, very good” journalist.
So before we conclude that this is a ‘spin story’ from a foreign news outlet, it appears there could well be some truth in the desire to sign the 24-year-old, who would be Arsenal’s fifth signing of the summer.
A high intensity, Brazilian, ball-playing attacking midfielder, Paqueta certainly fits the mould of a Mikel Arteta signing, who has approved the transfer and left Edu to make his move.
According to an update from freelance journalist, Freddie Paxton, Arsenal sent scouts to watch the midfielder last year, and Arteta is said to be a big fan of the player.
Paqueta has 33 appearances for Brazil to his name and has established himself as a key part of Lyon’s midfield, being versatile enough to play as an 8 or a 10.
But it’s that level of form and the fact he has three years left on his contract that would mean Arsenal needing to spend big money to convince the Ligue 1 club to sell.
Arsenal fans are aware of the hard-ball game their president, Jean Michel-Aulas likes to play when selling his big stars, and reports suggest Lyon are looking for at least €80m to part ways Paqueta.
Personally I see it being near impossible that Edu would go as high as that figure and with Lyon reportedly willing to sell and Paqueta wanting the move, we could see a more realistic fee of around £50m suggested.
It’s an interesting move considering Arsenal already have the likes of Martin Odegaard and new boy, Fabio Vieira, but perhaps we’re seeing the Raphinha plan B option coming into play.
Arsenal have seemingly given up on signing the Leeds United attacker after refusing to be drafted into a bidding war with Chelsea and Barcelona.
The latter is expected to have finally wrapped up a deal for their number one target who will likely join the Catalan club for a total of £60m once add-ons are included.
So after the Gunners made it very public that they had £50m+ to spend on a forward, perhaps Paqueta is the fallback option that means Arsenal still get a Brazilian playing in red and white.