Arsenal Could Complete The Signing Of £12m Rated Star

Arsenal have been given encouragement to sign Brazilian defensive midfielder Lucas Silva, this is after Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti indicated that the club would not move to sign the 21 year old any longer.

Madrid Sports daily, Marca reports Arsenal as the other club that are interested in signing the Cruzeiro midfielder. Now that Real Madrid have ruled out any January signing, the coast is clear for Arsenal to snapped at the opportunity.

Lucas Silva is a rising star in the Brazilian game having led his club to two consecutive Brazilian league Championships.

He fits every bit of a typical Arsene Wenger signing. He is not widely known, he is still a developing player and he would not cost much.

He is rated at £12 million, an amount that is within the budget of Arsenal, and falls within the reported £20 million that is the club’s transfer budget for this window.

The midfielder was once close to joining Manchester United, this is after his agent, Luiz Rocha claimed that they were in contact with the Old Trafford side over a possible move.

While Cruzeiro’s club president, Gilvan de Pinho had also claimed that clubs from England and Spain had enquired about the availability of the 21 year old.

The player in question had previously pinned his hope on a move to the Santiago Bernabeu this month, after Marca reported that a deal was close for the midfielder. He was tipped as a replacement for Sami Khedira. It was thought that the European Champions would move to get the deal done early after fears over the recovery of Luka Modric from injury. However, following Ancelotti’s comments, (he was specifically asked whether the club would still sign Lucas Silva this month) that both Khedira and Modric are in the mend, the club does not need another body in midfield as a result.

Which is why the focus has not shifted to Arsenal, as a possible destination for Lucas Silva, Wenger is on record to have said he would move for a midfielder.

“There is a need there but the right opportunity has to come up. To buy [simply] to buy is not what we want to do, but if the right opportunity comes up, we will do it,” Wenger said.

Although the boss has said he will not bring a player just for the sake of it, except one that would improve the side. Going by his antecedent in recent January windows, with some few exceptions of course, he has gone for young players. Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby were all signed as teenagers. Though, Lucas Silva is just 21, he is just about within the same age bracket of a Wenger signing. Signing him in this window would give him six months to bed into side ahead of next season when he would be fully settled. Having won two league Championships in Brazil, he has experience of winning things.

For fears on whether he can make the transition from the Brazilian to English league, look no further than Chelsea’s Oscar, who has been a fine signing since he came across the Atlantic to the Premier League.