Arsenal and Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco are reportedly set to go head to head in the race to sign 25-year-old Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo.
According to a report from Calciomercato, Arthur Melo is starting at an uncertain future at Juventus. The 25-year-old is out of Massimiliano Allegri’s plans for the new season and Juve want to get rid of him before the new season begins. The Brazilian midfielder has no shortage of suitors either, with Arsenal retaining their interest in the player.
Another club involved in the race to sign Arthur are AS Monaco. With star player Aurelien Tchouameni being linked with a move away from the club, the Ligue 1 giants are facing immense pressure to sign a new central midfielder. Tchouameni has been recently linked with a move to PSG, who are reportedly ready to spend €100 million for the youngster.
The Frenchman’s exit could create a gaping hole in Monaco’s midfield unit, which is where Arthur comes into the fray. Despite his struggles at Juventus, the former Barcelona man is rated highly due to his technical prowess and versatility in the middle of the park.
Arthur’s quality in possession could help Monaco contain the loss of Tchouameni, although it remains to be seen whether the Ligue 1 giants can trump Arsenal in the pursuit of the nifty Brazilian international.
With no real depth in the middle of the park, the Gunners are desperate to sign a new central midfielder in the coming summer. Mikel Arteta is indeed keen on adding more competition for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, and the Arsenal boss has targeted a move to Yves Bissouma of Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal were linked with a move to sign Arthur as well earlier in the year. But the transfer did not materialise due to many complications, including Juventus’s high demands for the 25-year-old Brazilian international.
The reports from Calciomercato suggest Juventus could still find it difficult to sanction an immediate sale of Arthur due to their high demands for the midfielder. It could ultimately result in the former Barcelona starlet having to leave Turin in a long-term loan deal, rather than a permanent move.
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It would be a favourable deal for Arsenal as well, given the fact that the Brazilian has never played in the Premier League. Signing the 25-year-old on a permanent deal, therefore, might not be a sound strategy as we enter the summer transfer window.
