Juventus outcast Arthur Melo is touted to leave the club in the current winter transfer window, with London giants Arsenal hot on his trail. The Gunners are plotting an initial loan move for the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder, who is currently out of favor at Allianz Stadium under Massimiliano Allegri.
According to reports from French outlet RMC Sport, Mikel Arteta is keen on reinforcing his midfield options before the end of the January and a loan deal for Arthur seems more realistic than vying for Lyon’s Bruno Guimaraes, for who the French club are asking no less than €45m.
#afc Intermediaries have offered Arsenal the chance to sign Arthur on loan from Juventus.
Player keen for more minutes. Juve open to a deal, but ideally want replacement (probably on loan too) sorted first.https://t.co/7jPUdQSsBr
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) January 12, 2022
Guimaraes is also on the books of Juventus, but however, his asking price is bound to turn the Italian club off from actively pursuing him.
Arthur was brought in from Barcelona in a high-profile deal that involved Miralem Pjanic moving to Camp Nou. However, he has not clicked at Juventus so far and Arsenal are offering a way out for the talented midfielder. The English club area also understood to be willing to pay the midfielder’s wages in full.
He currently rakes in €5m net per season and relieving his wages off the club’s books would do more good than harm, given La Vecchia Signora’s financial downturn of approximately €210m in the financial year ending June 2021.
The report mentions of negotiations at an advanced stage between the Italian and English club, with the probability of a loan plus buy option at the end of the season.
The Brazilian central midfielder has a contract valid until June 2025 with the Bianconeri. He has appeared just 11 times for Juventus this season – registering a total of 426 minutes across Serie A and UEFA Champions League.