Heavily linked starlet could be the player Arsenal hoped former Brazilian would be

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Arsenal are said to close to agreeing a deal to sign Brazilian starlet Gabriel Martinelli.

The Ituano player is in the process of finalising an Italian passport before turning 18, which could make a transfer to English football easier.

According to UOL, Unai Emery is a keen admirer of the attacker, who is highly coveted having impressed in his homeland.

The Spaniard is said to be keen on signing a new winger this summer and Martinelli could be one of the club’s first acquisitions.

It would seem that the proposed deal is progressing positively and Arsenal could well have a gem on their hands.

TBR’s view

Arsenal will be hoping that if Martinelli signs he can fare much better than the last youngster they acquired from Brazil.

Few will remember Wellington Silva, but Arsenal picked him up from Fluminense in 2010.

He was highly rated, but had his ‘Special Talent’ visa revoked by the FA shortly after signing for the club.

After years in the wilderness, Silva was granted a work permit allowing him to feature for the Gunners in the 2015/16 season, although he never did.

Things simply didn’t turn out as he’d hoped, and he was sold in 2016 back to Fluminense without ever appearing for the Arsenal first-team.

Whilst on loan at Bolton Wanderers, former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger described him as ‘absolutely stunning on the ball to watch’.

Silva was a very curious case and the club may be hoping that Martinelli will become the kind of player they expected his compatriot to be.