Arsenal are so close to signing a star from Palmeiras that the Brazilian side have already fielded their replacement.
Coach Abel Ferreira is said to be so resigned to losing 21-year-old midfielder Danilo that he has already lined up Wallace from Udinese to return to Brazil. Arsenal have been linked with Danilo since January this year but haven’t moved yet.
With the Gunners launching a surprise bid for the title, however, the squad’s lack of depth has been highlighted by lackluster performances in the Europa League – and now new additions are upon us.
BOLA-VIP (opens in a new tab) in Brazil reports that Arsenal are so confident of bringing Danilo to the Emirates Stadium in January that Palmeiras have launched their move for Wallace, who is keen to return to Brazil next year.
Palmeiras would be resigned to losing Danilo, who has been hugely successful since coming through the ranks at the club.
This would be just one of many transfers Arsenal have orchestrated from Brazilian links. Director Edu has been said to be an integral part of deals such as the transfer of Gabriel Jesus, in which he told the striker he had ‘lost his spark’ at Manchester City and the move of Gabriel Martinelli in 2019 , which brought the youngster to the Gunners of the Brazilian lower leagues.
As well as those two stars, the North Londoners signed starlet Marquinhos this summer from Brazil. Gabriel, the centre-back who scored against Chelsea, makes up the contingent.
Mikel Arteta recently said (opens in a new tab) that a surge to the top of the table has caused the club to ‘rethink’ their January plans, making a choice of another midfielder all the more likely.
Danilo is valued at around 25 million euros per transfer market (opens in a new tab).
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Arsenal have been linked with a transfer of Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli; the Gunners have already made contact with the camp of the Italian international. The club are also interested in Evan Ndicka in defence, while N’Golo Kante and Federico Valverde are also targets.
Meanwhile, one man who could be heading for the Emirates Stadium exit door is Gabriel Martinelli: there has been talk of Chelsea making a shock move for the winger.
In other news, Aaron Ramsdale says the Gunners have been motivated to succeed this season by the disappointment of missing out on Champions League qualification last season.
