JUST IN: Arsenal set to offload 20yo star who scored & assisted on debut, deal very close to be completed before deadline day
Arsenal winger Marquinhos is closing in on a move to Fluminense on loan with an option to buy, according to Globo Esporte.
The 20-year-old joined the Gunners from Sao Paulo for €3.5m in 2022 and he had a good start to his career in the Europa League.
He scored and assisted in his debut against FC Zurich, but managed only five more appearances for the club before he was loaned out.
Marquinhos spent the back end of last season with Norwich City. He was sent out to Nantes last summer, but he managed only 149 minutes before being recalled.
Globo Esporte now claim that he is set to return to Série A with Fluminense.
Marquinhos is currently with Brazil for the Pre-Olympic tournament. Once that is done, he will return to Europe to sort bureaucratic matters.
He will then join Fluminense on loan for a small fee. The South American champions will retain a buy-back clause as part of the agreement.
Arsenal look set to part ways with Marquinhos
There was much hype when Marquinhos first arrived at Arsenal. The winger was being compared with Gabriel Martinelli after a fantastic debut against FC Zurich.
However, he made only two more starts and three substitute appearances for the club. Manager Mikel Arteta was unconvinced over him and loaned him out last year.
His spell with Norwich was far from successful with just one goal and one assist from 11 outings. It was the same case at Nantes with only one assist to his name.
Marquinhos has failed to nail down a regular starting role and he now has the opportunity to restart his career back in the Brazilian top-flight with Fluminense.
Arsenal are likely to lose him on the cheap. Hopefully, they will retain a future sell-on clause, suppose Fluminense go on to sign Marquinhos permanently.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
