Arsenal have enjoyed a pretty solid season and remain in the picture for the Premier League title.
The Gunners also reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in their first season back in the competition for years.
Edu and Mikel Arteta have done a great job rebuilding the Arsenal squad, but there’s still work to do, and this summer could yet see more additions.
Now, a report from Brazil has claimed that the Gunners have set sights on one of the South American country’s top talents.
According to UOL, Arsenal are one of several clubs pursuing Palmeiras wonderkid and Brazil youth international Estevao Willian.
As well as the Gunners, the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are in talks with the club over the 17-year-old, added the report.
In addition, ‘everything indicates that Abel Ferreira’s request for him to stay until 2027 will be in vain, especially because the player, his family and his manager also want the deal.’
The report also mentions several ways in which a deal could be structured, mentioning ‘the English team’ offering €30million (£25million) up front with add-ons taking it to €55-60million (£47-51million).
From €45million (£39million) upwards, the add-ons would become more rigorous, with such targets as the number of goals he scores, appearances in European competition and international call-ups.
Arsenal would make real statement of intent with Estevao Willian signing
Estevao would be an amazing acquisition for Arsenal and a real statement of intent with regards to getting one of the world’s best young players on board.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout has compared him to Lionel Messi and Takefusa Kubo.
Kulig also gave Estevao a rare 10 out of 10 for potential, expecting him to become truly ‘world-class’.
Fellow scouting outlet SFTBL wrote: ‘Estevao consistently makes amazing moments happen’.
‘Some are just smart, orthodox moves, others are wacky, outside-of-the-box moves that other players wouldn’t even think of.
‘The crux of his brilliance is that he has the smarts, the technique, and the athleticism to make so many different things just… work.’