According to A Bola, Arsenal are ‘on the verge’ of meeting the €45million (£41million) release clause in Sporting winger Joelson Fernandes’ contract.
It’s stated that Barcelona and Juventus have joined the race for Fernandes, and Arsenal are attempting to ensure they don’t miss out.
Arsenal’s interest is ‘most effective’ of the three, and they are allegedly set to pay the huge release clause in the teenager’s contract.
Agent Kia Joorabchian is playing a key role, and his relationship with the Gunners is very strong; even described as ‘privileged’ here.
Given that Arsenal would be paying the release clause, Sporting would have little say on the matter, but this rumour seems a little odd.
A Bola tends to be a decent source in Portugal, but they reported less than a month ago that Fernandes would be signing a new deal with Sporting until 2025 – which hasn’t happened.
Arsenal don’t have big money to spend this summer, so the notion of them spending £41million on a 17-year-old seems bizarre.
Fernandes is a great talent, but his latest link to Arsenal seems more like agent talk trying to gain an upper hand in contract negotiations rather than an imminent move to North London.
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