Internacional will not sell star striker Yuri Alberto next year amid interest from Premier League trio Arsenal, Newcastle United and Everton, president Alessandro Barcellos has told the Dus2 podcast on YouTube.
Alberto might have burst onto the scene in Brazil as recently as last season but Arsenal’s interest goes back a lot further than that.
According to reports, the former Santos starlet first emerged on The Gunners’ radar in 2017, before he was handed his senior debut by one-time Manchester City playmaker Elano at the Vila Belmiro.
Arsenal’s wait looks set to go on, however.
Internacional are on the verge of selling another striker, Vinicius Mello, to MLS newcomers Charlotte FC. That incoming windfall, Barcellos explains, will allow Internacional to keep Alberto for another year.
Is Yuri Alberto heading to the Premier League?
“An important detail is that, after reaching this goal of 90 million reais (£12 million, earned via player sales), we will keep our main asset, which is Yuri Alberto, for another season, without having to sell in the middle of next year,” Barcellos explains, via Goal.
“There was no lack of opportunities to sell (Alberto) this year. But we understand that the sporting factors in this case were very important. Yuri Alberto’s valuation, (because he is) playing and scoring goals, increases.
“So the idea is to keep Yuri Alberto throughout 2022.”
Reports in Brazil suggested recently that, in addition to Arsenal, Rafael Benitez’s Everton have made an enquiry about Alberto’s availability.
The lack of firepower available to the under-fire Toffees boss has been a major cause of consternation amongst the Goodison Park faithful recently, with Salomon Rondon struggling to fill Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s boots as the club’s number nine.
Arsenal, meanwhile, could lose both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette next summer.
The future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also in doubt after he was dropped for Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Southampton.
The £17 million-rated Alberto has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, including hat-tricks against both Flamengo and Chapecoense.
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