Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta battling Barcelona for ‘Brazilian Dean Huijsen’ as £10.4m bid prepared

Barcelona are supposedly getting ready a proposal to beat Arsenal to the signature of a 19-year-old centre-back dubbed the ‘Brazilian Dean Huijsen’.

Mikel Arteta’s defence as soon as once more stood agency to maintain a clear sheet in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, regardless of the absence of William Saliba attributable to an ankle damage.

The Frenchman’s deputy Cristhian Mosquera put in one other composed efficiency alongside Gabriel Magalhaes within the rearguard, although, and Arteta additionally has new signing Piero Hincapie in his ranks as one other defensive different.

Nonetheless, there aren’t any academy merchandise actually on the cusp of first-team soccer at Arsenal; the likes of Maldini Kacurri, Brayden Clarke and William Candy are nonetheless persevering with their growth at youth degree.

Ayden Heaven might have been an everyday fixture within the first group by now, however the Hale Finish product was tempted away from North London by Manchester United, and the Gunners are actually mentioned to be eyeing a youthful defensive recruitment drive.

Barcelona ‘getting ready provide’ to signal Arsenal-linked defender

In accordance with AS, 19-year-old Palmeiras centre-back Luis Benedetti is on Arsenal’s switch radar, however the Gunners could also be overwhelmed to the punch by La Liga champions Barcelona.

The Spanish outlet claims that La Blaugrana are prepared to ‘instantly’ pay €12m (£10.4m) to deliver Benedetti to Camp Nou, though their provide will fall barely wanting Palmeiras’ €15m (£13m) asking value.

Nonetheless, Palmeiras won’t demand the identical €35m (£30.3m) that Manchester Metropolis paid for Vitor Reis earlier this yr, though that doesn’t imply that Benedetti is just not so highly-rated.

The Brazilian facet expect to maintain maintain of Benedetti for the rest of the marketing campaign as they compete for Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores glory, however they could be bracing for gives for the 2006-born defender throughout the January window.

Who’s Benedetti and why is he the Brazilian Huijsen?

Already standing at 6ft 5in tall, Benedetti has inevitably drawn comparisons to Actual Madrid new boy Huijsen owing to his tall and slender body, however his playstyle additionally mimics that of the ex-Bournemouth man.

The report provides that Benedetti possesses an ‘wonderful skill’ to play the ball out from the again, in addition to placing tempo and aerial dominance in each penalty areas.

The defender joined the Palmeiras academy setup from Ferroviaria in 2022 and rapidly proved himself as a goalscoring centre-back, netting six occasions in 29 appearances for the membership’s Underneath-20 facet.

Benedetti has now made six first-team appearances for Palmeiras, and he was an unused substitute of their Membership World Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea earlier this summer time.

{The teenager} prolonged his contract with Palmeiras as lately as April, and he isn’t attributable to develop into a free agent till New Yr’s Eve 2029.

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