EXCLUSIVE!- Columbian Luis Sinisterra and Brazilian Authur Melo is wanted by Champions League-chasing Arsenal – and the Gunners believe the deals can be pulled off.
- Luis Sinisterra notched goal number 23 last night against Marseille
- Edu is keen to revive Melo’s pursuit after talks broke down in January
- Arsenal brace up for busy summer as the team close in on UCL return
- Gabriel Jesus, Osihmen, Tielemans, Gakpo, Spence are high on the list as Arteta wants quality depth for next season
By EMMANUEL NWACHUKWU
Arsenal has made formal inquiries to sign Feyenoord and Colombian left-winger Luis Sinisterra, NigerianEcho understands. Luis has been sensational form this season scoring 23 goals, registering 12 assists and creating 14 big chances, and averaging 2.3 key passes per game.
Mikel Arteta‘s side is not the only ones attracted by the rising star’s brilliant form, though, with Atletico Madrid, Napoli, and Bayern Leverkusen also throwing their hat in the ring to sign him in the summer.
With his current contract due to run out by 2024, Sinisterra is currently valued at about £15million by the Dutch side who are hoping for a bidding war to drive up value.
NigerianEcho understands that Arsenal will revive its bid to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo in the summer after a failed attempt fell through in January.
Edu was in talks with the Old Lady to sign the 25-year-old in the mid-season transfer window and an 18-month loan with the option to buy was agreed upon in principle, but the negotiations ended before a deal could be finalized after the Arsenal board vetoed the deal.
Arthur has made just 16 Serie A appearances during this campaign, largely due to injury at the beginning of the season, but he would bring winning success to the Gunners, having lifted seven trophies in his career.
NigerianEcho understands the Gunners will try again in the summer transfer window, as they look to bolster their midfield option and bring more depth to their squad. Arthur still has three years remaining on his contract with Juventus, having arrived in 2020 and gone on to make 58 appearances for the club.
Having allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona in January, Arteta is set to also lose out-of-contract strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah next month. Elneny is expected to leave on a free next month and despite his resurgence, Arsenal will listen to offers for Xhaka, Cedric, and Pepe. Niles, Tierra, Guendouzi, Nelson, Bellerin are all expected to find permanent moves away after their loan deals, hence, Arsenal is expected to be busy
Jesus, who starred in City’s 4-3 win against Real Madrid on Tuesday, is prominent on Mikel Arteta’s list of summer targets as is Nigerian Victor Osihmen and English Tammy Abraham.
The Gunners are also keen on Belgian Youri Tielemans, Right-back Djed Spence, and PSV captain Gakpo.
‘Our planning has been done, it has already reached the owners,’ technical director Edu told ESPN Brazil on Saturday. ‘I’m very excited.’