- Player in London for medical as Arsenal close-in on second January signing
- Confirmed line-ups: Southampton vs Arsenal: Martinelli & Gabriel start
- Fabrizio Romano posts quotes confirming 22-year-old star has agreed to join Arsenal
- [Photos] 28-year-old star poses in Arsenal shirt after Gunners confirm new signing
- Arsenal on verge of signing 22-year-old star after Edu negotiates deal
- Arsenal team news update: Duo could miss FA Cup clash with Southampton
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Newcastle: Tierney and Partey start
- [Image] Key trio return, no Xhaka or Lacazette: My Arsenal line-up vs Newcastle
- Arsenal boss confirms fresh injury blow + Tierney update
- Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Tierney out, Partey on the bench
Arsene Wenger Lets Slip That Big-Money Deal Is ‘Virtually Done’
Another update on our move for Gabriel Paulista today as Arsene Wenger has let slip that the deal is now ‘virtually done’.
The boss confirmed at his press conference on Thursday that we were deep in talks with Villarreal and he was prepared to pay the players £15m buy-out fee.
Arsene then held a Q&A with members of Arsenal’s Diamond Club on Thursday evening where it’s reported he let slip that the deal for Gabriel was now ‘virtually done’ before quickly back tracking after realising he’d given too much away.
Like many fans, I said after his press conference yesterday that we must be pretty confident of landing the player for Arsene to speak so openly about it all, so it comes as no surprise to hear that the deal is nearly done.
As Arsene alluded to at his press conference, I don’t think price was ever the real issue here, it was gaining a work permit as Gabriel does not automatically qualify for one due to him not being a full Brazilian international yet.
It’s reported that Arsenal and the players agent have been busy trying to secure an ‘exceptional talent’ visa over the past few days and the club must be confident it will be granted.
Let’s see what the coming hours and days bring but I think it’s safe to say Gabriel is almost certainly going to become our second signing of the window….
Arsene doing Diamond Club Q&A now has just said that Paulista deal virtually done, then tried to backtrack after giving too much away
— Darren (@DarrenArsenal1) January 22, 2015
Sam Yari
January 23, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Lets hope so!
geekaybee
January 23, 2015 at 8:48 pm
You are calling a £15 million purchase a big money deal. What’s your name…..Wenger.