Vitinha joining Arsenal has been touted as a possibility this summer.
Arsenal are in the market for a midfielder this summer and it’s been reported by Graeme Bailey on The Talking Transfers podcast that the Gunners were ‘confident‘ of bringing Youri Tielemans to the club.
However, there’s another name in the mix now it seems.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, the North Londoners have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Vitinha of Porto.
The report claims that Arsenal are willing to pay his £34.7 million release clause in a ‘heated duel’ with the Old Trafford club to secure his signature.
Vitinha, previously labelled a magician by Proxima Jordana, has been linked to Liverpool earlier this year [O Jogo] but it would seem as if Jurgen Klopp no longer has the 22-year-old on his radar.
The young midfielder has Premier League experience after a loan spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2020-21 campaign, but ultimately returned to Portugal.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal genuinely want him but, as mentioned, midfield is definitely an area where Mikel Arteta needs reinforcement.
Thomas Partey spent the last couple months of the 2021-22 campaign out injured, having endured an injury-hit first season at the Emirates Stadium too.
And with Albert Sambi Lokonga enduring a lukewarm first year at Arsenal last term, Arteta needs somebody he can rely on every single week – particularly amid speculation that Granit Xhaka may be off to Roma, with Jose Mourinho reportedly still wanting him.
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