Mikel Arteta’s plan for Marquinhos emerges after Arsenal use loophole to secure transfer

Arsenal plan to loan out Brazilian winger Marquinhos next season after reportedly agreeing a £3m deal for the Sao Paulo star.

Widespread reports have claimed that Arsenal have moved quickly to snap up the highly-rated 19-year-old. Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte claim a sale has been agreed between the two clubs and the transfer should be made formal in the coming days.

Goal reports the fee for Marquinhos will be around £3m. The player has yet to pass a medical or negotiate personal terms. Those factors are not expected to pose an problems though.

Edu and Co moved in on the player after extensive talks and he is set to become Mikel Arteta’s first summer signing.

But the player is unlikely to force his way into Arteta’s first-team plans.

Arsenal are not expected to use him next season and he will not be thrown intro Kevin Betsy’s Under-23 set-up. Instead, Sport Witness say the wide player is set to be loaned out initially. And the “favourite destination” is Spain.

Of course, Arteta is no stranger to that situation having seen William Saliba loaned out in the last two seasons.

The Gunners have however taken advantage of a difficult contract situation in Brazil to land the player for a bargain price.

Sao Paulo have been embroiled in a complicated contractual situation with FIFA over the player’s registration. In 2019 he signed a five-year deal, which would run until 2024, but FIFA have refused to recognise that contract.

They claim he was underage when he penned that deal. Therefore the limit would be a three-year deal, which expires this summer.

That has prompted Edu to move for the player, with Sao Paulo having to accept a relatively low offer rather than lose him for free.

‘Absurd’ Marquinhos price tag

The player is understood to be worth between €10m and €15m.

The Brazilian media discussed the proposed transfer on Jovem Pan Esportes, via Sport Witness.

“This is absurd. This is absurd,” said former Brazil midfielder Vampeta.

“Marquinhos’ business. They’re going to lose Marquinhos to Arsenal for €3m.

“I don’t know if you remember that I used to say I watched Audax’s academy games, Marquinhos in the under-15… he used to already make the difference.

“I said here on the show, ‘There’s an U-15 at São Paulo, Marquinhos’… Now he’s going to leave on a silver platter.”

READ MORE: Jorge Sampaoli puts ball in Mikel Arteta’s court over future of Arsenal’s William Saliba