Arsenal sent an official to watch Sporting Club de Portugal’s clash with Juventus, specifically for midfielder midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
That’s according to O Jogo, who say Mikel Arteta ‘liked’ the midfielder when Arsenal took on Sporting in the Europa League last month.
The newspaper explains that the Arsenal boss is looking for a ‘complete midfielder’ who is capable of helping the team both defensively and offensively.
He saw Ugarte’s performance against his side and ‘liked it’ and that has now set up the possibility of a move in the summer transfer window.
And that could be possible as Sporting are looking to raise funds this summer and know that Ugarte is the player in their squad with the most suitors.
They need to sell after failing to make the final four of the Europa League while qualification for the Champions League next season is becoming more and more difficult.
Ugarte departing is ‘practically inevitable’, and Arsenal are one of his suitors, even sending a scout to watch him in the recent clash with Juventus.
Sporting’s plan is to sell the midfielder for as much as possible, with his current release clause set at €60m and the player showing no desire to renew his deal or increase that figure.
Whether Arsenal will pay such a figure isn’t clear, but they are among the suitors and the ‘most recent’ to show an interest in him.
They have been ‘captivated’ by his performances, particularly in the clash with Sporting in the last 16 of the Europa League last month, where he showed a ‘great level’.
Indeed, that performance ‘motivated’ them to send someone to watch him again against Juventus ahead of a potential move in the summer.
