Arsenal are in the race for Athletico Paranaense star Vitor Roque and this has been widely reported in Spain and Brazil in recent weeks.
A month ago, Mundo Deportivo reported the Gunners are ‘pushing hard’ to bring the striker to the Emirates.
A fresh report from Mundo Deportivo states Arsenal and Barcelona are keen to sign the 18-year-old.
Athletico Paranaense are demanding a minimum of €35m for the star, which the La Liga side aren’t able to match so far.
The Blaugrana are waiting for La Liga’s approval for their feasibility plan before making any movements in the market. That hasn’t stopped them from planning to take Roque on loan with a mandatory obligation to buy, in order to delay the payment until 2024.
At the same time, Xavi Hernández’s side are also aware of the need to make an advanced payment to satisfy the Brazilian club, who are ‘resigned to losing’ their star in the next window.
Barca’s ‘problem’ is the millions Athletico Paranaense could receive from England, where ‘Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are in the lead’. The interest shown by these clubs and Paris Saint-Germain will ‘exert extra pressure’ on the Blaugrana.
Mikel Arteta’s side have to convince the player since he and his agent, André Cury, could favour Barca. This would help them avoid an auction with the Gunners and other English clubs.
In addition to this, there’s hope at Barca the arrival of Deco as their new sporting director could help them convince the Brazilian club to soften their demands.
Arsenal don’t have the economic problems like Barca when dealing with this operation.
It’ll be interesting to see how this case develops, considering Arteta’s side have the financial advantage over Barca to sign Roque.
