Arsenal have been interested in Mathias Olivera this summer – but the Getafe star is now expected to sign for Italian side Napoli instead.
Arsenal ended their season with a 5-1 thrashing of Everton, putting on a real show in front of the Emirates Stadium crowd.
It wasn’t enough for Champions League qualification though as Arsenal finish behind rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Slipping up against Tottenham and Newcastle United has been costly for Arsenal, who now head into the Europa League.
That could impact Arsenal’s transfer business and they now looks set to miss out on a transfer target to a Champions League club.
Arsenal have been interested in Mathias Olivera
Reports from Tuttomercatoweb on Monday claimed that Arsenal are chasing Getafe left back Mathias Olivera.
It was suggested that Napoli were trying to thrash out a deal with Getafe having been keen on Olivera for months.
Yet whilst the deal was dragging on, Arsenal and Benfica were allegedly making their interest known.
A £17million fee was needed for Olivera but Arsenal’s hopes may already be over.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Olivera is undergoing a medical with Napoli today ahead of a permanent move from Getafe.
The move was allegedly ‘verbally agreed’ in January but is now finally set for completion this week.
That means Arsenal are out of the picture already and they will have to look elsewhere for a left back.
Nuno Tavares endured a difficult 2022 and there may now be fears that he isn’t the right man to offer cover behind Kieran Tierney.
Olivera could have been a different option for Arsenal but will instead move on to Napoli.
Olivera, 24, notched one goal and three assists in 32 La Liga games this season. The Uruguayan has been an impressive all-round left back at Getafe and has even played as a wing back.
Getafe boss Quique Sanchez Flores has branded Olivera ‘extraordinary’ and a move away has been expected for a while.
It’s Napoli who win the race though and Arsenal must now look elsewhere this summer.
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