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When the Portuguese media reported on Thursday morning that Arsenal were chasing Vitória Guimarães defender Ibrahima Bamba, it was claimed that a representative from the player’s agency had been in London this week.

Now as outlet O Jogo went after this story, they managed to speak to the youngster’s agent, Filipe Macedo Alves.

The representative confirmed that he’d been in London, but denied that his trip had anything to do with negotiating Bamba’s future with Arsenal.

“It’s true that I was in London, but I am just arriving from Germany, where I was watching Tapsoba’s game. Bamba is not the only player I work with.

“He’s a player profile that is clearly of interest to many clubs, but today he is a Vitória player and is only focused on Monday’s game in Chaves. The market is open, but I’m not going to feed rumours.”

O Jogo highlights that despite dismissing the talks with Arsenal, the agent didn’t deny the Gunners are interested in signing the 20-year-old.

Newspaper Jornal de Notícias wrote on Thursday that Arsenal are ‘on the front line’ for an ‘imminent transfer’ this month.

The outlet did not say how much it’d cost to sign Bamba from Vitória Guimarães, despite pointing out the player is protected by a €30m release clause.

The youngster is standing out for the Portuguese club this season, playing both as a defensive midfielder and a central defender, and according to O Jogo, there are ‘many clubs’ who have been following him since the last summer.