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Report: Edu really wants to sign £66m Brazilian star for Arsenal this month

Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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ALLIANZ STADIUM, TURIN, ITALY - 2021/12/21: Arthur Melo of Juventus FC gestures during the Serie A football match between Juventus FC and Cagliari Calcio. Juventus FC won 2-0 Cagliari Calcio. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images

Arsenal technical director Edu is thought to be ‘particularly keen’ on signing Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on loan this month.

That’s according to The Express, who claim that Edu has picked out Arthur as his preferred midfield target in January.

Arsenal simply have to bring in another midfielder. They’re so short of midfielders right now that Mikel Arteta considered playing Sead Kolasinac there against Nottingham Forest.

Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey are at the Africa Cup of Nations and Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been inexplicably loaned Roma.

Arthur has now emerged as an option for Arsenal, with Edu keen to lure his compatriot to North London.

The problem is that Arthur helped Juventus come from 3-1 down to beat Roma on Sunday. That means Juve suddenly want to keep Arthur in Turin.

That’s major change of fortunes for the Brazilian, who has started just three Serie A games this season.

ALLIANZ STADIUM, TORINO, ITALY - 2021/12/08: Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo of Juventus Fc  in action during the  Uefa Champions League Group H  match between Juventus Fc and Malmo FF . Juventus Fc wins 1-0 over Malmo FF. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images

Massimiliano Allegri doesn’t appear to be a huge fan of Arthur and even banished him from training last month for being late.

The 25-year-old may now have a second chance though, potentially leaving Edu and Arsenal gutted.

Juventus did pay £66million to sign Arthur from Barcelona in 2020, though that was partly offset by selling Miralem Pjanic in the other direction for £55million.

Still, that’s a big outlay and Arsenal will be ready to pounce if Juventus show an indication that Arthur can go.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 19: Arthur Melo of Brazil (C) controls the ball during the match between Brazil and Korea Republic on November 19, 2019 at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images