Transfer ‘agreed’ as Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal striker target’s new club; Sky Sports man reveals Edu interest

Although a Sky Sports analyst has revealed why Edu was so eager to bring the prolific Santos striker to Emirates Stadium, Fabrizio Romano has disclosed that a low-ball cost has been agreed upon over the player’s next club. As a result, it now appears that Arsenal will miss out on signing Marcos Leonardo.

Some of the best young Brazilians in the game have been signed by the Gunners in the past; Mikel Arteta’s squad regularly included Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli. But after Benfica and Santos agreed to a deal for Leonardo, their chances of acquiring another striker have significantly diminished.

This season, the Gunners have looked unconvincing in attack. They have wasted numerous opportunities, and their carelessness has cost them dearly in recent weeks as they have lost to West Ham at home and Fulham, dropping Arsenal to fourth place in the Premier League standings.

As it stands, their top scorer this season is Bukayo Saka with six goals, meaning it is easy to see why Arteta is desperate to add more firepower over the second half of the season to help boost his side’s attack.

To that end, Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Brentford’s Ivan Toney, while on Tuesday it emerged that the Gunners were looking at Bayer Leverkusen attacker Victor Boniface as an alternative

However, any such deal mid-season would be difficult to strike, given Leverkusen’s status as Bundesliga title chasers.

As an alternative, Arsenal have also looked at Leonardo, after the 20-year-old banged in 21 goals in 49 appearances during a season of struggle for his side that ultimately ended in their relegation from Brazil’s Serie A for the first time in their 111-year history.

READ MORE: Who is Marcos Leonardo, the Brazilian hotshot who will be on the move in January

Arsenal interest in signing Marcos Leonardo confirmed by Sky Sports expert

Revealing why Arsenal sporting director Edu has been so keen on Leonardo, South American football expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports that Leonardo ticks plenty of the boxes that the Gunners like in all their transfer targets.

“One I’m being told Arsenal are looking at is Santos striker Marcos Leonardo. He had a very good Under-20 World Cup a few months back. Santos have just been relegated

“What’s interesting about him is that they’d have been relegated much sooner had it not been for his goals. He’s been scoring goals in a losing cause. He is another one who is very raw and he is a penalty-area operator. Not a target-man operator, but a bit like Romario. He’s very good in restricted space and doesn’t offer you a great deal outside the penalty area.

“His link-up play still leaves a lot to be desired, but it could be interesting for Arsenal because his skill set could fit in with the other forwards they have. There will be competition for him from others. Benfica are getting very interested as well.”

Leonardo’s transfer competition will be won by Benfica, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Benfica is one of Leonardo’s admirers, as Vickery mentioned, and transfer specialist Romano has now confirmed that an agreement to bring the striker to Estadio da Luz

Romano, who is known for his hit song “Here We Go,” says Benfica will pay the Brazil Under-20 attacker a flat fee of €18 million (£15.6 million), without taking any add-ons into account.

According to Romano, the 20-year-old has already approved the relocation, and paperwork is currently being reviewed before the signing is given the go-ahead.

Arsenal, who have appeared to have delayed their approach too long, could take a hit from this revelation. Although it may sting Edu to see Benfica agree to such a modest amount for such a gifted potential, a transfer hijack now seems unlikely.

From Benfica’s perspective, they will shortly be welcoming one of the best young strikers in the game.

In fact, Benfica has made millions of euros in recent years from transfers; two of its more well-known transactions were Darwin Nunez (who might move to Liverpool for up to €100 million in June 2022) and Enzo Fernandez (who went to Chelsea for €120 million last January).

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