Arsenal are reportedly eager to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on a permanent transfer this summer having previously eyed a loan deal. The Gunners are set for another busy summer and they have not lost interest in a player they have been keeping an eye on since January.
Mikel Arteta is targeting a number of improvements to his squad with European football back on the cards for the 2022-23 campaign. Midfield in particular is set for an upgrade. While Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have impressed as a duo, there is precious little quality in reserve.
It is no surprise then to hear that the Gunners are eyeing a move for Arthur once again. Arteta was eager to bolster his midfield back in January with a loan move for the Brazilian rumoured to be close at one stage. But it did not come to fruition. According to journalist Giacomo Iacobellis of TuttoMercato, they are now ready to make a permanent offer. With Juventus eyeing a move for Gabriel Magalhaes, a swap deal could be on the cards.
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When Arthur arrived at the Camp Nou from Gremio in the summer of 2018, he did so as one of his country's highest-rated prospects. But after making the switch to Juventus in 2020, his form has declined sharply.
“Arthur was the biggest of all the big hopes," South American football expert Tim Vickery told talkSPORT back in January. “We thought he was made to measure for Barcelona and when he went there it didn’t go badly, there was a very impressive performance against Tottenham at Wembley.
“I’m told by people far closer to this than I am that his life off the field hasn’t been as disciplined as it should be. But I would hope that there’s a player there because I love his ability to receive the ball and keep possession.
“I would love, even if it’s at Arsenal, to get him playing his football because he’s the kind of player that Arteta would like and it would be lovely to see him fulfil his potential.”
