Arsenal are expected to complete the signing of Porto star Fabio Vieira as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster their midfield options this summer, and the talented 22-year-old is set to be one of the club's lowest earners.
It is suggested that the Gunners have agreed a deal worth £30m, with Vieira set to fly into London to go through the formalities of the switch and of course undergo a medical with his new employers.
He will become Arsenal's second summer addition following Marquinhos' move from Sao Paulo, with the deal to be completed 'within hours'.
Vieira has impressed at the Portuguese giants since making his first-team debut in 2019. He featured eight times during his debut campaign before cementing a regular place in the side.
With seven goals and 16 assists in 39 games in all competitions last season, it is no surprise why the Gunners are interested in the player. Arteta is keen to add at least one central midfielder to his squad with the club set to play more matches this season.
Arsenal finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League, meaning they will often have to play at least two games every week. Vieira will add quality depth to the Gunners' squad and is expected to battle Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga to a first-team spot.
Now, it has been reported in Portugal that Vieira will receive around £111,000 in wages per month, equalling to just over £25k per week. According to Spotrac, this would put Vieira as one of Arsenal's lowest earners alongside the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe, Nuno Tavares and Bukayo Saka.
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Thomas Partey is reportedly the Gunners' highest earner on £200k per week, while Nicolas Pepe, Ben White and Hector Bellerin just behind. Four of the top five earners in the Premier League are from Manchester United with Kevin de Bruyne the only non Red Devils player on that list.
Despite his weekly wage, Vieira will now add much-needed creativity into the heart of the Arsenal midfield - with the position having been identified as a priority heading into the summer transfer window. Other candidates were noted to be Leicester City star Youri Tielemans and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ man Ruben Neves.
Tielemans is set to leave Leicester after over three years at the club with his current contract up in 2023. A fee of around £25m has been touted around for the 25-year-old Belgian international, who scored the winner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea last May.
Meanwhile, Neves could also depart Wolves and has been linked with a move to Barcelona, United and Arsenal. The midfielder has been crucial to their success over the past five seasons.
