Arsenal winger Marquinhos has been linked with a move away from the club this summer, with Nantes set to sign him.
A report from L’Equipe claims that Ligue 1 outfit Nantes are now closing in on the capture of Marquinhos. Apparently, the French club have reached a full agreement with Arsenal for the 20-year-old winger.
The Brazilian is highly rated at the North London club. But he needs regular football in order to continue his development. Arsenal will not be able to provide him with the platform he needs right now. So a transfer away from the Premier League club seems ideal for all parties. And the interest from Nantes came at the right time for the youngster.
Nantes needed to add quality and depth to their attack, and the 20-year-old should prove to be a useful acquisition for them. He will add pace and flair to their attack. He is also likely to get ample game time at the Ligue 1 club, which will help him develop further.
Marquinhos will be hoping to use this experience of a loan move and improve as a footballer. He will look to return as a better player next summer and force his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup.
🚨Arsenal winger, Marquinhos will join FC Nantes on loan until the end of the season.
No buy option included in the deal.
The French side will pay Arsenal a £300k loan fee as well as cover the Brazilian’s full salary.
Another outgoing done, more to follow. pic.twitter.com/2nRLX1PcKl
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) August 9, 2023
The Brazilian is undoubtedly a prodigious talent with a bright future ahead of him, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if Arsenal decide to bring in attacking reinforcements before the summer transfer window closes.
The Gunners have a number of quality attackers are their disposal. However, Arteta was not able to rotate his squad adequately last season. Arsenal could definitely use a versatile forward who can play anywhere across the front three.
Arsenal will be competing in the UEFA Champions League next season, and they need a deeper squad to do well across multiple competitions. Marquinhos could have been a handy option for them if he had stayed at the club.
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It remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old winger can hit the ground running in Ligue 1 and establish himself as a key player for Nantes in the coming months. If he manages to make an immediate impact at the French club, the 20-year-old could prove to be a major bargain.
