Arsenal are hopeful of completing the signing of Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista in the coming days,Goal understands.
The Gunners are in advanced talks over the transfer of the Brazilian centre-back, who has a buy-out clause of €20 million, and the player's agent is in London to try to finalise the deal.
Signing Gabriel is complicated by the work permit criteria applied to the transfer of players outside the EU - only those who have started 75 per cent of their national side's matches over the previous two years automatically qualify and the 24-year-old has yet to receive a senior cap for Brazil.
There is, however, an appeals process run by the Football Association on behalf of the Home Office that allows for the rules to be relaxed if it can be demonstrated that the player is "of the highest calibre" and "is able to contribute significantly to the development of the game at the top level in England".
Arsenal are optimistic about the prospect of meeting these appeal requirements in the case of Gabriel, who has impressed this season in a Villarreal defence that ranks as the joint-third best in La Liga, conceding just 17 goals in 19 games.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has repeatedly asserted his desire to sign a central defender in January, having embarked on this season with just six senior defenders to cover four positions.
Earlier this week Gabriel confirmed his agent was in talks with Arsenal, saying: "Whether I go to Arsenal or stay at Villarreal, I won't lose my head. I'm very calm.
"My head is at Villarreal and I'm very focused. My agent is working on making sure I continue being calm."
And on Tuesday, Villarreal boss Marcelino admitted his club would be open to doing a deal: "I hadn't considered selling Gabriel, it's bad news from a sporting point of view.
"If both Gabriel and the club believe that his sale to Arsenal is the best for all parties, we will accept."
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