Report: Arsenal unwilling to pay asking price for Pablo Mari

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Arsenal are unwilling to pay the £7.5 million asking price for Brazilian defender Pablo Mari, according to ESPN.

The Gunners have been tracking the centre-back and were set to seal a deal for Mari over the weekend.

A change in heart, however, has seen the Gunners request to take the 26-year-old on loan instead.

Flamengo are willing to do that but only if Arsenal hold an obligation to buy Mari during the summer.

During 2018/19 he played a staggering 66 games spread across spells with Flamengo and Deportivo La Coruna in Spain.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta appears to have identified his defence as an area of concern.

Shkodran Mustafi was stretchered off last night against Bournemouth and Calum Chambers is already out for the season.

Whether a compromise can be struck between the two parties remains to be seen.

Mari was on the books at Manchester City earlier in his career. He joined Flamengo in the summer, however, having failed to make a single appearance under Pep Guardiola.

TBR View – Mari is a risk worth taking for Arsenal

Although the Brazilian defender didn’t make the grade at the Etihad Stadium that doesn’t mean he can’t do a job for the Gunners.

It’s easy to see why they’d like him on loan first. Having never played in the Premier League, Arteta would surely like a look at him before stumping up the necessary money.

According to Who Scored, Mari had a 87.8% pass success ratio last season, which for a centre-back is pretty impressive.

David Luiz has been erratic in the last few weeks and Mari could be the calming influence that Arteta needs in his back four.