‘Too close to certain agents’: South American expert shares how Arsenal’s Edu is viewed

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Tim Vickery has claimed that Arsenal’s transfer expert, Edu Gaspar, has received ‘mixed views’ for the work he has done as technical director, as he told talkSPORT.

The South American football expert questioned whether Edu is ‘too close to certain agents’, as he referenced his calls to buy Willian and David Luiz, which didn’t end too well.

Whilst those two flopped and left with no-one waving goodbye, a number of gems have also been earthed from the Highbury hero.

Gabriel Martinelli arrived as a fresh-faced teenager from the lower leagues of Brazil and he is now donning the colours of the senior side.

Vickery touched upon some of the ‘excellent pieces of business’ Edu has done, as well as what he hasn’t got right in north London.

“Extremely mixed,” said Vickery. “Look at some of the deals he has done with his own compatriots. I wonder if he’s too close to certain agents.

“He brought in two veterans, Willian and David Luiz. Spent a lot of money there and got nothing from it. There has been some good business.

“Gabriel, who is the centre-back, excellent piece of business. Martinelli, they have taken a real flyer there. That was a player that never got near Brazil’s first division when they bought him. He’s now on the verge of the Brazil squad. That’s a fantastic piece of business.

“They have just taken another flyer with Marquinhos, a teenager who they have brought over, he won’t be ready yet. But it’s mixed. Those deals with the veterans, I think they soiled the record a little.”

SOUTH AMERICAN THEME TO 2022 SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW

There is a South American theme to what Arsenal are doing or trying to do during the 2022 summer transfer window.

There could be the possibility that Mikel Arteta loads his forward line with three Brazillian stars, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha and Richarlison.

In truth, the Gunners don’t need all three, and will at the very least, be hoping one comes through the doors, as Manchester City’s versatile forward is close to joining, according to some reports.

Then Edu is trying to lure Leeds United’s right-sided trickster to the Emirates, he prefers Barcelona, but they don’t exactly have the money to splash the cash, so if he leaves Elland Road, then London might just be his next destination.