Arsenal have seen an initial offer of £15m plus add-ons for Flamengo’s Matheus Franca turned down, according to a report.
According to journalist Artur Petrosyan, Arsenal’s initial bid of £15 million plus add-ons for Flamengo’s Matheus Franca has been rejected. The 19-year-old midfielder has also reportedly attracted interest from Newcastle United. Previous reports from April had indicated that Arsenal had sent scouts to observe Franca during Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores matches, with Crystal Palace also monitoring the player. Newcastle United had previously made a bid of €16 million (£13.9 million), which was also turned down. These reports suggested that Flamengo valued Franca at over £16 million, which is not far from the initial bids made by Arsenal and Newcastle.
Franca has been making progress with each passing year, having made 25 appearances for Flamengo in 2023, following 22 appearances in 2022 and two appearances in 2021. He has scored a total of nine goals in his 50 games for the senior side of Flamengo.
Additionally, he has made a few appearances for the Brazil U20 national team. Franca is currently under contract with Flamengo until 2027.
Although Arsenal’s summer transfer focus seems to be on high-profile deals for midfielders and defenders, it would not be surprising to see them make moves for players outside the top-five leagues as well. In recent seasons, the club has made signings from lesser-known leagues. Players such as Marquinhos, Auston Trusty, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Pablo Mari (who was also from Flamengo) have been brought in by Arsenal. Franca could potentially be the next addition to the list of such signings, but it appears that negotiations with Flamengo are still ongoing.
As the transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen if Arsenal or another club will meet Flamengo’s asking price for Matheus Franca. Both Arsenal and Newcastle United have expressed interest in the talented midfielder, and given his promising performances and progress, it is likely that a deal will eventually be reached between the player’s club and one of the interested parties.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0