For the past few weeks, the Portuguese media made it look like Arsenal were really close to signing Joelson from Sporting.
Several reports said the Gunners were negotiating a fee for the move, but would trigger the player’s €45m release clause if necessary.
His agent Kia Joorabchian recently spoke to the English press and said there was no such interest from Arsenal, yet the claims continued regardless.
Newspapers O Jogo and Record report today that Joelson is signing a new contract with Sporting, which is set to run until 2023.
It seems Joelson’s staff won the battle against Sporting, as the club wanted a release clause of €100m, but that will only be raised to €60m.
O Jogo insists a little that Arsenal were interested, saying the Gunners were ‘insistent’ in the chase for him this summer.
But we wonder if that wasn’t a play from representatives, whose big influence at the London side may have convinced the Lions that the player could head to the Emirates in case he didn’t get the contract he wanted.
