Arsenal are reportedly keen to sign Matchoi Djalo from Portuguese club Paços de Ferreira for a £1 million fee.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are close to signing Portuguese youngster Matchoi Djalo from Primeira Liga side Paços de Ferreira. The 18-year-old is available for £1 million as the Gunners view him as an ideal player for the future and are eyeing him for the Under-23s squad.
Arsenal are making some remarkable progress in the transfer window with Mikel Arteta’s ideas of a rebuild. The club is targeting players of a younger age profile with a keen eye on the long-term future. The Gunners still have plenty of work to conduct before the season starts though, as they eye players in various positions.
First-team stars such as Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin are keen to leave before the window closes, and Arsenal are in search of replacements. Ruben Neves is a prime target, while Manuel Locatelli is considered a long-shot, but the club could swoop in if an opportunity arose. The Gunners also like Max Aarons of Norwich for the right-back slot.
However, now the Gunners are moving closer to a curious transfer from the Portuguese Primeira Liga for 18-year-old winger Matchoi Djalo. The Paços de Ferreira youngster’s not a first-team signing, but more for the Under-23s and could be developed for the club’s long-term future.
There is much interest in Djalo from European and Premier League sides. Juventus were chasing him, while Everton, Southampton and Newcastle United have also been credited with an interest. However, Arsenal are close to bringing him to England with a £1 million move on the cards.
The Gunners believe Djalo could become a key player in the future despite seeing his development stalled in the last two years. The wide midfielder became the youngest player to play in the Premier Liga back in 2019 when he came on as a substitute for Paços de Ferreira, aged 16 years and 122 days.
However, the midfielder has made only a handful of appearances since then, even though many still believe in his talent. Djalo has impressed much for the Portugal Under-19 team, which has caught the eye of many clubs. If he is to sign, Arsenal will send him straight to the Under-23s side for further development.
The Gunners also signed Mika Biereth, Fulham’s highly-rated 18-year-old striker, last week for the Under-23s side. The striker will replace Folarin Balogun in the squad, who was promoted to Arteta’s first team. Arsenal will be hoping to develop both those 18-year-olds into the mould of some of their current youngsters like Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
As for first-team transfer news, Arsenal are set to announce the £50 million capture of Ben White this week. The Brighton star is pencilled in for his medicals this Wednesday and will become the club’s third first-team signing, after the captures of Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
