Arsenal to announce free-transfer signing after AFCON

Yacine Brahimi TEAMtalk

Arsenal are in “very advanced negotiations” over a free-transfer move for Yacine Brahimi, claims a report.

According Algerian source La Gazette Du Fennec the Algeria international is close to a move to Arsenal after his five-year spell with Porto came to an end yesterday.

Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas have all made offers for the left winger, but Brahimi is eager to sign for the Gunners to match his “sporting and financial challenge”.

Arsenal will pay the 29-year-old €4million a year – around €77,ooo a week – per the source, which could well prove to be terrific business considering he is available for free.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery is worked on a restricted summer budget of around £45million, plus any cash he generates from player sales and so the arrival of Brahimi for nothing would leave his transfer war chest full.

Everton and West Ham are also understood to have enquired about the player, but Arsenal appear to have won the race and the source expect an announcement after the African Cup of Nations, where Brahimi is representing his country.

In February Manchester United were reported to be interested in signing Brahimi.

Porto had put a price tag of £26million on the head of Brahimi then, but he will now leave Portugal on a free.