Goal Brazil claimed this week that Arsenal have contacted the agent of Internacional striker Yuri Alberto ahead of a potential move in one of the next two transfer windows.

The Gunners have an excellent record of signing relatively unknown talents and turning them into brilliant players. Matteo Guendouzi and Gabriel Martinelli are two youngsters who burst onto the scene under Unai Emery, while Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga have impressed this season under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal’s technical director, Edu Gaspar, knows Brazilian football better than most others. His connections helped us sign Martinelli, and he could now get a deal done for Alberto as well.

Who is Arsenal-linked Yuri Alberto?

Yuri Alberto is a 20-year-old centre-forward currently playing his trade in Brazil at Internacional.

The youngster started out his career at Santos, the club famous for producing players like Pele and Neymar.

After an unsuccessful spell there, Alberto turned down a new contract and moved to Internacional on a free transfer. He has made a name for himself as one of the best young strikers in the country at the Estadio Beira-Rio, scoring 29 goals in 83 appearances in all competitions.

It’s this season that the young Brazilian has really come to life. He has played 54 games so far and has netted 19 goals. That’s an impressive record for someone who is still only 20 years old.

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What is Yuri Alberto’s style of play?

Alberto, in ways, is similar to Martinelli. He’s direct, is a good dribbler and is very composed in front of goal. He may not be as quick as the young Brazilian at Arsenal, but his acceleration is really impressive and often allows him to get past defenders with relative ease.

The 20-year-old, despite barely being 6ft tall, is pretty strong. His upper body strength allows him to hold the ball up and his link-up play is not too bad either.

Alberto’s finishing is one of the biggest reasons why he’s a wanted man. He’s naturally right-footed, but his left is not bad at all. He’s fairly good with his head too and it’s only a matter of time before he switches Brazil for Europe.

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Will Arsenal sign the young Brazilian?

Arsenal have Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Martinelli and Folarin Balogun as options up top in the senior side. Young Mika Biereth and Nikolaj Moller are also dreaming of breaking into the first-team sooner rather than later.

Lacazette and Nketiah are almost guaranteed to leave in one of the next two windows, which opens up a spot. Arsenal will have to replace them with a top-quality striker – something that Alberto is not at this moment in time.

However, Edu’s knowledge of South American football could well convince him to make a move for young Alberto. He may not be ready for the top-level just yet, but if our technical director really believes he has the potential to become world-class, it won’t be a surprise to see the Gunners table a bid for the Brazilian next month.

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