Arsenal are closing in on signing Gremio attacking midfielder Bitello in a deal worth around €8million (£7million).
Gremio are expected to sell midfielder Bitello to Arsenal this week despite interest from Italy.
That is according to a report from Tuttomercatoweb, who claim that Bitello has been scouted by a number of Italian clubs.
It’s even suggested that Bitello has been offered to Serie A teams but is now expected to move to England.
The report claims that negotiations with Arsenal will close this week as a move to London nears.
It’s claimed that Arsenal will strike a deal worth around €8million (£7million), a touch less than the initial €10million (£8.6million) initially demanded by Gremio.
This comes just days after Gremistas reported that Arsenal would be making a bid for Bitello.
That report suggested that Bitello would struggle to gain a work permit to play in England, so we may see him head out on loan.
90Min suggested two weeks ago that Arsenal were in talks to sign Bitello and that sources were comparing him to former Gunners flop Willian.
Edu now appears to be convinced by Bitello with Arsenal now thought to be closing in on a deal.
Who is Arsenal target Bitello?
Bitello started out in the ranks of FC Cascavel, a club founded by former Barcelona and Chelsea defender Juliano Belletti.
Gremio pounced in 2018 and have nurtured Bitello into a first-team in recent years.
The attacking midfielder has now turned out 85 times for Gremio, bagging 16 goals and seven assists along the way.
Bitello has yet to earn a Brazil cap and he may well feel that he needs a move to Europe to take the next step in his career.
Arsenal unearthed a Brazilian gem in Gabriel Martinelli and will now hope to repeat the trick by signing Bitello.
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