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Tavares to Boa Morte in Arsenal’s 6 Portuguese stars with £34m deal close

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Arsenal are interested in signing Fabio Vieira this summer, with a deal to make the Porto midfielder the club’s seventh Portuguese player so far considered close under the request of boss Mikel Arteta.

The 22-year-old is yet to win a senior international cap, but he shot to prominence last season after UEFA named the maestro as their Euro U21 Championship Player of the Tournament. Vieira thrilled during the competition as an integral part of Portugal’s squad that lost in the final against Germany.

Vieira has since come on leaps and bounds in the 2021/22 season to earn the captain’s armband for Portugal’s U21s. He has offered seven goals and two assists across his last eight international games, whilst proving an excellent link between Porto’s midfield and attack with seven goals and 16 assists.

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Dragoes boss Sergio Conceicao fielded Vieira in 39 games last term, but only started him 21 times in all competitions. Yet a spirited turn after Christmas saw Vieira strike home six goals and lay on 10 of his 14 assists in Liga Portugal. He also created once in the Champions League at home to Liverpool.

Arteta is interested in signing Vieira at Arsenal after stunning Porto season

Vieira had only scored three goals and assisted two in his 37 first-team appearances previous to last season. Now, Arteta is interested in taking Vieira to Arsenal, with The Athletic reporting the Gunners boss has expressed his admiration of the Porto talent to the Emirates Stadium hierarchy for months.

A transfer for the Dragoes product to move to North London is now considered close for a fee of up to €40m (£34m). Arsenal will pay Porto an initial €35m (£30m) with a further €5m (£4m) in add-ons. Vieira is also set to sign a five-year deal, and will be an option in midfield as well as a second striker.

Arsenal have seemingly struck a deal for Vieira at below the €50m (£43m) release clause in his Porto contract. The Guardian additionally report the playmaker will hold his medical in London this Friday, as he closes in on securing a dream transfer to the Premier League, having aspired to play in England.

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Vieira to become Arsenal’s seventh Portuguese ace following Tavares amid Arteta interest

Vieira joining Arsenal from Porto amid Arteta’s interest will make him the seventh Portuguese talent to play for the Gunners so far. Nuno Tavares was the last Portuguese player to move to the Emirates, having headed to north London from Benfica last July for an initial fee of £7m before future add-ons.

Tavares joined Arteta’s ranks to offer the boss a backup for Kieran Tierney at left-back, having lacked depth in the position. The 22-year-old would go on to feature 28 times in all competitions during his debut season in England, starting 17, after twice needing to step in to replace Tierney through injury.

Arsenal sealed Premier League swoop for Cedric in 2020 from Southampton

Arsenal sealed a swoop for a Portuguese player from within the Premier League in 2020 when Arteta hired Cedric Soares on loan from Southampton during the winter market. The full-back later signed a full-time contract with the Gunners through to 2024 and has amassed 55 appearances with the club.

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Wenger signed his last Portuguese player for Arsenal in 2010 with Monteiro

Arsene Wenger signed his last Portuguese player for Arsenal in 2010 when raiding Swiss side FC Sion for Elton Monteiro. But the centre-half failed to make the grade at the senior level and left without a first-team appearance to join Club Brugge. He did captain the Gunners’ U18s whilst in north London.

Bischoff failed to hit great heights during his sole season in north London

Amaury Bischoff joined Arsenal from Werder Bremen in 2008, but the midfielder would only spend a season in north London before moving back to his native Portugal with Academica Coimbra. He only made four appearances during the former Portugal B international’s Emirates spell for 75 minutes.

One-time Fulham forward Fonte failed to make the senior grade at Arsenal

Rui Fonte joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon in 2006 and showed promised on the wings at youth level. But he would only progress to play one senior game as a late substitute during an EFL Cup tie in 2008, before returning to Sporting in 2009. His career later included Fulham from 2017 to 2019.

Arsenal signed first Portuguese player in 1997 in Sporting product Boa Morte

Arsenal signed the club’s first Portuguese player in 1997 in Sporting Lisbon product Luis Boa Morte. The Gunners won a Premier League and FA Cup double during his first season in north London. But the winger would later move to Southampton in 1999 for £500k after just four goals over 36 games.

The post Tavares to Boa Morte in Arsenal’s 6 Portuguese stars with £34m deal close appeared first on Arsenal Insider.



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