Arsenal are ‘one step’ ahead of Barcelona and two steps ahead of Juventus in the race for Sporting starlet Joelson Fernandes.
That’s according to A Bola, who say the Gunners have emerged as the frontrunners for the 17-year-old’s signature this summer.
According to the newspaper, it is becoming ‘increasingly’ likely that the youngster, who has five goals and two assists in 31 games in all competitions this season, will be leaving Portugal this summer.
Three countries have emerged as possible destinations – England, Spain and Italy – with Arsenal, Barcelona and Juventus the respective interested parties.
Of those three it is Arsenal who have ‘shown the most effective interest’ with it claimed they are on the verge of putting forward a proposal worth €45m for his signature, which is the valuation of his release clause.
The situation is being closely followed by his father Eusebio Mango Fernandes but crucially his agent, Kia Joorabchian, who is described as having ‘a privileged relationship’ with Arsenal.
They’re not convinced that €45m is a good price but A Bola state that the ‘next few days’ will be decisive if anything is to happen.
Sporting will be powerless to resist if that amount is offered, but they are working to try and sign the youngster up to a new deal to avoid losing him.
Indeed, they had everything ‘practically agreed’ for that to happen only for the two parties to end up disagreeing over the release clause in his deal.
Sporting wanted €100m, but the player’s entourage wanted it lower. Sporting moved to €80m, but that was still too high, with Joorabchian and co wanting €60m.
Record back this up, stating that they had an agreement on an extension to 2025 earlier this year only for talks to be waylaid by a ‘setback’ over disagreements regarding his release clause.
The newspaper also backs up A Bola’s claims over the figures; Sporting wanted €100m, but the player’s entourage have been ‘under pressure’ to get this lowered to €60m.
The difference here is that Record state there is ‘conviction’ on both sides will reach an agreement at some point, and he will end up staying in Portugal.
That could explain where the sudden interest from Arsenal, as well as Barcelona and Juventus, has come from.
Joorabchian is known to have contacts at the Emirates, and there is every chance he is using that to his advantage here to scare Sporting into accepting his terms rather than holding out for their own.
