Even though it’s been nearly a month since Arsenal were first said to be engaged in a chase for Grêmio midfielder Bitello, the Gunners are still to make an official bid for the signing.
That was now confirmed by the Brazilian club’s vice president Antonio Brum, who held a press conference to speak about transfers this week.
Now that doesn’t mean that Arsenal aren’t coming for the player, because as the Grêmio chief talks about the situation (via Trivela), he makes it clear the transfer may still happen this summer.
“We received numerous queries for Bitello, but the new official proposal has none. We know that it may end up arriving this window extension time that we have. I can’t guarantee that he won’t leave or stay until the end of the year, that depends a lot on what kind of proposal will arrive, what type will arrive and what values can reach.”
“At some point Grêmio will need to make a big sale. I can’t guarantee if it will be now or at the end of the year. It will depend on the proposals that may arrive. We’ll have to analyse the club’s needs, but also without wasting assets. Let’s see what will happen. There’s no guarantee.”
Amid the rumours linking Bitello to Arsenal, there had been stories in the Italian media claiming the clubs already had a done deal for the midfielder.
The Brazilian press then clarified that things are not as advanced, even though the Gunners like him and consider him a ‘cheap’ option.
The word in the local media is that Bitello should cost around €10m, and that undoubtedly makes him an attractive target.
This week, it’s been said Arsenal could wait until the end of the Brazilian season and bring him to London in December. That would even be an advantage they have over Porto in the race for the signing.
