Flamengo are reportedly open to selling 19-year-old talent Matheus Franca for just €20m (£17m) this summer amid recent claims that Arsenal scouted the teenager.
According to Lance, the Brazilian giants are warming to the idea that their star prospect will be on the move in the coming months with Flamengo setting a £17m asking price for Franca, who is wanted by the Gunners.
Torcedores recently reported that the attacking midfielder was watched by Arsenal’s scouts last week in Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores clash against Chilean side Nublense, and news of the Rio de Janiero side setting a £17m valuation for Franca could be appealing for the Gunners.
Arsenal are no strangers to signing Brazilian wonderkids on the cheap, with Gabriel Martinelli joining the north London side when he was 18-years-old, with Edu Gaspar also bringing into Marquinhos last summer from Sao Paulo.
And Franca could now be the next player on Arsenal’s South American agenda, with the midfielder regarded by many as one of the best talents in Brazil and the latest youngster who looks set to make the move to Europe.
Indeed, with Arsenal also looking to add to their midfield this summer, Franca could be a left-field signing for the Gunners, with the youngster a prime candidate to flourish under Mikel Arteta in the years to come.
Arsenal should look to sign Franca this summer
All signs point to Arsenal dipping into the Brazilian market this summer, and with Franca now available for as little as £17m, the Gunners should be looking to bring the 19-year-old to north London as early as possible.
Midfield is a position Arteta is keen to add to this summer, and with Franca a young, exciting and different option to other targets like Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the teenager ahead of potential English rivals.
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