Arsenal and Chelsea in list of sides who want Brazilian – Club willing to negotiate in January

Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense are about to start the season with a huge doubt about the future of their biggest star.

Midfielder Bruno Guimarães could be leaving the club in January, even though it’s still hard to guess who he will be signing for.

Website Globo Esporte brings a story about it this week, listing the possible destinations as Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Chelsea and Flamengo.

And although it’s claimed that Athletico Paranense would favour a January move, the interesting thing is that the report brings a negative point for each one of these clubs, except for the Premier League sides.

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Atletico Madrid have the priority due to an agreement from the transfer of Renan Lodi last year, and could pay €30m for Bruno Guimarães. But the Spanish side’s wage bill has been too big, and even if they make a January signing, they would prefer a striker rather than a midfielder.

Something similar happens to Benfica, who have just spent €20m on the signing of Julian Weigl and are unlikely to sign another midfielder in January. And Flamengo aren’t a very strong option, since Bruno Guimarães’ staff and Athletico would favour a move to Europe.

Globo Esporte doesn’t say a lot about Arsenal and Chelsea, except claiming that the interest from the Blues has been there for a while, and since they had been banned from making signings, this is the first transfer window they could make an attempt for him.

So the two London sides seem to be the clubs who don’t have anything blocking them from trying to get the Brazilian this month.