Flamengo are assuming that youngster Wesley Franca will be sold at some point this summer, particularly after Arsenal made contact for him.
Journalist Jorge Nicola provides an update on the defender today as he appears to be earning a growing list of admirers in Europe.
Wesley is currently considered one of the rising stars of Brazilian football and certainly the most promising right-back to have emerged in some time.
His status was given a considerable boost this week as he was called up to the Brazilian national team for the next international break.
The 21-year-old is likely to be the subject of interest in the summer and his Brazil call-up came in the same week that a report in his homeland stated that Arsenal had been in contact with his entourage to discuss the possible finances of a move.
They are just the latest side to show an interest, particularly in the Premier League, with Wesley’s talent not going unnoticed by sides across Europe.
Nicola now covers that and reports that Wesley is unlikely to remain with Flamengo much longer, particularly after Arsenal made contact.
“Time to talk about Flamengo and the possibility of right-back Wesley, now playing for the Brazilian national team, appearing as a reinforcement for Arsenal, a team that came from England,” he said.
“The English club is monitoring Wesley’s steps and has already contacted the player’s representatives to try to understand the conditions of a possible deal for the middle of the year.
“Wesley is unlikely to stay at Flamengo because of all the pressure he receives from European football. The tendency is that, in Europe, between the months of July and August, he will end up being negotiated over.
“He’s a player who has already been the target of good offers from Atalanta and Zenit. There was no agreement with Atalanta because Flamengo made a series of small changes at the last minute. The negotiation with Zenit was discarded by the full-back himself.
“Flamengo’s request is currently around €35m and judging by Wesley’s call-up, I would not doubt that the deal could come close to these figures. Wesley is currently the most promising right-back playing in Brazilian football.”
