Arsenal are advancing negotiations with Juventus over a loan deal for midfielder Arthur, RMC reports
Arsenal are actively looking to sign a new central midfielder this month with the limited options in the squad.
Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are away on international duty while Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been loaned out.
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka has tested positive for Covid-19. Albert Sambi Lokonga is the only senior choice available.
Speaking on Wednesday, Arteta acknowledged that the market is ‘very difficult’.
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‘What I really want this month is that we have as many players as possible fit and healthy and that we do the best and maximum with those players,’ said the Arsenal manager.
‘After we have a strategy of how we want to evolve and improve the team, and whenever that is possible we are going to try to do it.
‘We all know that this market is extremely difficult.’
Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes is on Arsenal’s shortlist but reports are claiming that the French club are demanding a €45 million (£37.4m) transfer fee for the Brazilian.
According to RMC Sport, Arsenal’s ‘priority’ is now to secure a loan deal with Juventus for Arthur.
Arthur, who moved to Juventus from Barcelona in 2020 as part of a swap deal for Miralem Pjanic valued at £66million, isn’t a regular in Allegri’s team and has made just 11 appearances and three starts under Allegri so far this season.
Miralem Pjanic of Barcelona and Arthur Melo of Juventus battle for the ball. (Photo Getty Images)
He started more regularly under Andrea Pirlo last season but has fallen behind in the pecking order and a loan move to England could be sanctioned.
Arthur contract with Juventus runs until 2025.
What has happened to Arthur Melo?
A €72 million move to Juventus – one which saw Miralem Pjanic go in the other direction – has not worked out well for any club involved and in fact, is one of the most bizarre deals in modern European history.
The Brazilian has managed just one goal and is yet to register an assist in all competitions since arriving in Turin.
A combination of injuries and poor form have restricted Arthur to just three Serie A starts all season.
At just 25, however, Arthur has plenty of time on his side. And he will arrive at Arsenal with a point to prove, like Odegaard before him.
Is Arthur Melo an ideal man for Arteta-ball?
Arthur is most known for his vision, passing and touch. He can string together balls that easily break down even the toughest of defences.
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He knows how to lower himself when receiving the ball, making him tough to intercept or tackle, and as a result he rarely loses possession.
His passing stats are astonishing, he completes 90.88% of his passes and attempting 67.8 passes per 90 mins.
He has improved both in his long passing game and in his reading of the game without the ball, and he could certainly get excited by Arteta’s setup.
What others said on Arthur Melo :
LIONEL MESSI ON ARTHUR
He is very similar to Xavi,” one-time Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi said during their time together in Spain.
He’s very safe and trustworthy. He has the La Masia style.
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“Playing short passes, without losing the ball, and he grasped it quickly, the dynamic of the team.”
”He is very solid and he surprised me.
Xavi on his Comparison with Arthur Melo
“I see myself when I see Arthur on television,” he told Catalunya Radio back in 2018.
“He is a very quick thinker. He has a natural talent, but most of all, he has a lot of room to improve through training.”
The priority during any match is to never lose the ball and he comes out of a tricky situation with ease. He has a strong personality already.”
Arthur Melo shares many traits with the former Barcelona Magician. He’s good in short passes and is brilliant at breaking the first line of the opposition press.
Arthur has wonderful close ball control and excels at keeping possession.
There is a top player there in Arthur Melo, it’s all about unlocking that talent and providing it with an environment to thrive which Arteta can do like he has done with the rest of the team.