Arthur Cabral has frozen talks over a new contract at Basel amid reported interest from Premier League giants Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
When discussing the most successful ‘wheeler dealer’ clubs in European football – those who have built their success upon a rock-solid, buy-low-sell-high approach to the transfer market – attention usually turns to Sevilla and Southampton, Lille and Porto.
But it’s about time Basel got the credit they deserved.
This is a club, after all, who discovered a young Mo Salah, who sold Breel Embolo, Manuel Akanji, Moi Elyounoussi and Mohamed Elneny for big profits, who provided a platform for Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Yann Sommer.
And after plundering 22 goals in just 20 games at the start of this season, Brazilian striker Arthur Cabral is almost certain to be next off the St Jakobs’ Park production line.
Will Leeds United get Arthur Cabral at the second attempt in 2022?
Leeds United submitted a bid in the region of £16 million at Marcelo Bielsa’s request during the summer of 2020 – according to Globo Esporte – and have not given up on securing Cabral’s services, renewing their interest in a man who averages more than a goal-per-game at present.
It is believed that Arsenal, Everton, West Ham United, Southampton and Brighton have sent scouts to watch Cabral too, as have a Tottenham Hotspur side who have just one senior centre-forward on their books (TEAMtalk).
Now, Corriere dello Sport do not go as far as to say that Cabral has his heart set on leaving Basel in 2022.
But that is certainly implied by the suggestion that the former Palmeiras youngster has called off talks to extend a contract that is due to expire less than two years’ time.
Cabral, who set Basel back a club-record fee in the region of £5 million last June, is expected to earn the Swiss giants a substantial profit with his market value soaring to £14 million.
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