Arsenal are monitoring Marseille’s Brazilian wide player Igor Paixao, having previously evaluated him during his spell at Feyenoord.
Reports emerging over the past day or so suggest the north London club could make a move for the 26-year-old attacking player.
Over the last twelve hours, French media have been filled with talk that the Premier League titleholders are contemplating signing the Brazilian.
The reliability of these reports remains uncertain at this stage. Nevertheless, the player does fit the profile Arsenal are after, being a right-footed left-sided attacker, which sporting director Andrea Berta is understood to be prioritising in the transfer market.
The club had previously run the rule over the player during his time in the Netherlands with Feyenoord before he turned down an approach from Leeds and instead completed a club-record thirty million pound move to Marseille last summer.
Should Arsenal decide to pursue a deal, there appears to be room for negotiation. This is largely because Gabriel Martinelli is on the verge of departing for Al-Hilal in a significant deal, and the club has so far found it difficult to identify their ideal successor.
Juventus have remained firm on their valuation of Kenan Yildiz, who has recently suffered a foot problem, while Paris Saint-Germain’s asking price for Liverpool-linked Bradley Barcola is deemed too high. Morgan Rogers, who was reportedly Mikel Arteta’s top target, completed a massive one hundred and seventeen million pound switch to Chelsea.
Arsenal have already brought in Christos Tzolis but are willing to sign another left-sided attacker as well as striker Julian Alvarez if the right opportunity arises.
If Arsenal opt to pursue Paixao, he would likely be obtainable. Marseille continue to face significant financial difficulties following a UEFA punishment and squad limitations for breaching financial fair play regulations.
Additionally, the club, along with Lyon, received sanctions from the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion, French football’s financial regulator, in June.
Marseille may have to generate funds by selling Igor Paixao before the transfer window closes if a reasonable offer is submitted.
The club has posted record losses in recent years, and their spending capacity this summer has been severely restricted despite being compelled to sell Mason Greenwood, who departed for Fenerbahce in a transaction worth thirty-eight million and thirty-six thousand pounds.
Marseille are among several prominent French clubs affected by issues surrounding Ligue 1’s television rights deals, while their failure to secure Champions League qualification has compounded their problems.
Marseille will feature in the Europa League next term, though none of their most valuable players are guaranteed to remain at the club. There was some discontent among supporters at the Velodrome earlier this month when former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg turned down a move to Newcastle, given his status as one of the club’s highest-paid players.
While it remains far from certain that Arsenal will pursue Paixao, he represents an appealing option on the market and has attracted interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League.