Almost Done – Arsenal Close To Signing High Rated Defensive Midfielder

 

Arsenal’s reported interest in Cruzeiro defensive midfield player, Lucas Silva has been given a major boost by the report that Real Madrid have pulled out of the player’s pursuit. Reports emanating from Marca say Madrid through President Florentino Perez have made a statement that doesn’t favour their pursuit of the 21-year-old defensive midfielder. It is believed the Madrid President, Perez is not a believer in spending outrageously in January as it is believed that there is a dearth of quality players available in the winter, therefore, undervaluing the 21-year-old midfielder by refusing to meet the Brazilian club’s valuation. Arsenal on the other hand, was said to have agreed terms with Cruzeiro over the set fee of £13m and the club could well go in the direction of the English Premier League club. Now, it looks like Arsenal will be all alone in pursuit of the player with Perez quoted as saying: “Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, we will not bring reinforcements in the winter transfer market. Right now, there are none. If Lucas Silva has to come, it will be in the summer under normal circumstances.”

Earlier, before Madrid pulled out with the above statement by Perez, Arsenal was said to have agreed a deal with Cruzeiro for £13m as Madrid would lose out. O Tempo revealed that Cruzeiro’s Director of Football, Alexandre Mattos would quit at the end of the year and he quickly wants to get the business over with. While Madrid reportedly wanted to drag foot on the deal for Cruzeiro to succumb to accepting their proposed bid, Arsenal seems very ready to start negotiating with the player and his agents over weekly wages. This is obviously a hint that the 21-year-old midfielder is poised for a move away in and it would favour the Gunners who are in need of a defensive midfielder this January. Arsenal had been thought to be favourites to land the Cruzeiro player from a list of English Premier League clubs which includes, Manchester United, and Chelsea, but the initial reported Real Madrid threat with a reported €12m bid accepted by the Brazilian club, Cruzeiro, the hope of landing he impressive midfielder was believed to be quelled like water on a smouldering ember. However, the odds seem to now favour the North London club in urgent need of defensive bolstering in the midfield.
Other than the current situation involving the transfer of Silva away from Cruzeiro, Arsenal clearly are in need of a defensive midfielder more than Madrid, which already has Sami Khedira, Asier Illaramendi, Toni Kroos and many other youngsters in the youth ranks. Arsenal only depends on injured Mikel Arteta, 33 and Mathieu Flamini, 30 in the holding midfield position, therefore the pressing need for a versatile and young anchorman.  Silva is said to be a very good midfielder going forward but has established himself as a deep lying midfielder with impeccable statistics of tackles and interceptions. At 21-years-old, Lucas Silva would not only own the defensive midfield role but also will grow to dominate the English Premier League as Arsene Wenger would give the player so much playing time for him to understand the physicality and style of the English Premier League. While not completely ruling out Real Madrid in the transfer of the player, Arsenal as it is stands a better chance than Madrid for the player’s signature.