OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal completes the signing of Brazilian superstar on a 4yr deal, Medical team on standby to welcome Arteta Second summer signing today – Here we go
OFFICIAL NOW: Arsenal completes the signing of Brazilian superstar on a 4yr deal, Medical team on standby to welcome Arteta Second summer signing today – Here we go
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made a Brazilian superstar his priority target for this summer – and sporting director Edu Gaspar has already made a proposal to sign him.
The Gunners’ transfer window is in full swing now, with David Raya’s permanent move to Arsenal confirmed and Italian defender, Riccardo Calafiori, said to be on the way next. There could yet be significant sales, too, as Arteta reshapes his squad.
The Basque boss recently told ESPN that, “Obviously the Euros and Copa America are slowing everything down: hopefully now it is going to pick up a little bit,” referring to the transfer market – with his colleague, Edu, in talks over the next signing at the Emirates Stadium.
TEAMtalk have cited unnamed Spanish reports to claim that Edu has offered cash plus Hale End striker, Eddie Nketiah, to Barcelona sporting director Deco, in a bid to bring Raphinha back to the Premier League.
According to the report, Arteta “has gone from rejecting the possible arrival of the Barça star to becoming obsessed with him, to the point of making him one of his priority targets for the next campaign”. Arsenal and London rivals Chelsea previously tried to sign the winger when he was at Leeds United but were beaten by the Catalan side to his signature – when Deco was actually Raphinha’s agent.
“After [Leeds] managed to avoid relegation, largely due to Raphinha’s contribution – among other players, of course – [Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani] changed his stance because of Chelsea’s offer,” Deco told FourFourTwo earlier this year, claiming that Radrizzani had promised to sell Raphinha to Barcelona for “a certain amount” before the Blues outbid the Catalans.
