Arsenal Could Sign £34m Star, Player’s Rep Confirms Deal Is Possible
According to reports, Arsenal are interested in signing Benfica forward Eduardo Salvio. The 24 year old who has been linked to several Premier League including Manchester City and Chelsea in the past has played five times for Argentina.
The hierarchy at the Portuguese club Benfica have anticipated the possibility of losing him that they have placed a price tag of £34 million on him.
The Argentine has been in fine form this season in a struggling Benfica side. He has two goals from six league appearances, and on Wednesday opened his account in the Champions League when he scored a stoppage time goal in the 3-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
He can also play as a right winger, beside the forward position that he is adept in. He was previously with Spanish Champions Atletico Madrid between 2010 to 2012 where he made 44 league appearances, in between his time in the Spanish capital, he spent some time on loan with Benfica, before he joined the Lisbon club permanently in 2012.
His agent, Agustin Jimenez had previously mooted the idea that several clubs are in for his services. He opines that it is inevitable that he would attract interest from other big clubs because of his performance.
“After a big season it is normal that significant clubs will be interested.
“Now the decision is in the hands of Benfica. Salvio is content at the club but he is open to the possibility of a move.”
Although, he is another player linked to Arsenal that plays in attack, the club seems stuck in that area if the players there are anything to go by. The likes of Joel Campbell, Lukas Podolski and even Tomas Rosicky are finding game time hard to come by following the signing of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck. And this is without mentioning Theo Walcott who is currently out injured. Bringing Eduardo Salvio into the picture as an attacking player looks improbable.
Besides, for the reported price of £34 million which Benfica are said to have slapped on him, it is a road too far for Arsenal to take in terms of consideration.
In the end, the Argentine international who stands at 5ft 7in would continue to be a target in the circle of the media, and by and large not much of a target in the real sense as far as Arsenal are concerned.
The club’s struggles are patently defensive, and it’s unlikely any signing that is not defensive would be joining anytime soon, unless a forward that is in the top echelons of the game.