Developments over Arsenal signing Arthur Melo are coming thick and fast at the moment, to the point where it’d genuinely be a surprise if the transfer failed to materialise.
Globo Esporte from Brazil reported this morning that Arthur – an Edu target – will today ask Juventus to greenlight his move to Arsenal.
Elsewhere, Football London claimed on Thursday that the transfer could even be finalised at some point throughout Friday.
That seems unlikely, but it does seem plausible that the Gunners do get their man in general.
Because The Standard have now reported that Arsenal have agreed to pay the Brazil international £80,000 per week to join the Emirates Stadium outfit.
The report adds that would be 100 percent of the salary he receives in Turin at the moment.
If and when it goes through, it’ll be an initial loan agreement with the option to make it permanent this summer.
Desperately needed
Arsenal’s midfield options are sparse to say the very least at the moment.
Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are absent due to Africa Cup of Nations commitments, Granit Xhaka is suspended following his brainless red card at Liverpool on Thursday, and a combination of injury and illness has ruled out Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard for the short term.
Oh, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles is now a Roma player, which exacerbates Arsenal’s positional problem.
However, Arthur would go some way in bolstering the Londoners in this regard – and especially if the transfer is finalised today, making him available to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
At the moment, Albert Sambi Lokonga is Mikel Arteta’s only fit midfielder, and that could remain the case even beyond the North London derby.
The sooner Arthur’s move to Arsenal is signed, sealed and delivered, the sooner the supporters – and indeed Arteta – can rest easy.
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