Likely destination emerging for ‘spectacular’ Arsenal ace, want quick loan

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Udinese are keen to agree a loan transfer for Pablo Mari in the coming hours after moving into pole position to sign the defender from Arsenal, according to TuttoMercatoWEB.

The Serie A side are eager to seal a temporary deal for the Spaniard to edge rival interest from Sampdoria. Roberto D’Aversa’s Blucerchiati have been hot on Mari’s situation for a while. But the Stadio Luigi Ferraris natives now trail Luca Gotti’s Dacia Arena outfit.

Udinese have advanced their negotiations with Arsenal with the aim of securing Mari’s loan transfer quickly. The two sides are yet to finalise the terms, but are closer than Sampdoria.

It is increasingly likely that Mari leaves Arsenal and moves to Italy this month, either with Udinese or Sampdoria. TuttoMercatoWEB have also reported interest from Fiorentina, AC Milan and Torino, plus La Liga duo Valencia and Unai Emery’s Villarreal.

Sampdoria led the Mari transfer race early on, too, but Calciomercato note the Blucerchiati would need Arsenal to pay some of his wage. The matter is a problem in D’Aversa’s pursuit. The Gunners are open to granting a loan deal with an option or obligation to buy, though.

Arteta will not notice Mari absence if Arsenal grant Udinese loan transfer

Mari has two-and-a-half-years left on the £85k-a-week contract signed after joining Arsenal from Flamengo in 2020 following an initial loan. The total deal including a £4m loan fee set the Gunners back £12m, but he has rarely featured since.

The 28-year-old featured 18 times in all competitions last season and has only played three games so far this term. He has also not featured in any competition since September, when Mikel Arteta fielded him in the Carabao Cup.

Mari last played a Premier League game against Chelsea in August when Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes were absent. Even though Gabriel has lauded his fellow centre-half.

“I see that [Mari] is a spectacular person and I see how much he supports me when I’m on the field,” Gabriel told ESPN Brazil in April of last year. “He’s always praising me, talking to me – during breaks, too. What he sees out there, in what I can improve and vice-versa.”