Arsenal
Arsenal Football Club Crest and Cannon Emblem on Stadium in London, UK, January 23, 2026.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Luis Benedetti could now enter a more decisive phase, with fresh reports from Brazil suggesting Palmeiras are internally treating the defender’s situation as an active negotiation.
According to a club insider source, Palmeiras are handling the potential sale of the 19-year-old centre-back behind the scenes.
The expectation in Brazil is that Benedetti will seal his move to European football in the coming weeks.
However, the Brazilian side are proceeding carefully. They first want to secure the arrival of a new defender before finalising any deal.
Sale expected – but only with replacement
Palmeiras’ board believe they cannot afford to lose a defensive option without immediate reinforcements. As a result, the sale is being structurally linked to recruitment.
This aligns with what we previously covered. The club had been demanding around €20m (£17.2m), having already rejected approaches in the region of €10m (£8.6m), including interest from Arsenal.
Now the tone appears different. The departure is is being framed as likely – provided squad balance is maintained.
Manager Abel Ferreira’s influence remains relevant. Earlier in the season, the preference was to keep Benedetti for gradual development. That position may now be evolving if the right conditions are met.
The Brazilian transfer window will close on March 3, so Palmeiras still have one week to sign a new centre-back. They are now actively chasing Zenit defender Nino and keeping tabs on PSG’s Lucas Beraldo as a ‘plan B’. Their pursuit for Brighton’s Igor Julio did not work out.
Could Arsenal be the destination?
Timing could become the key factor for Arsenal. If Palmeiras sign a replacement quickly, the green light for negotiations may follow soon after.
The Premier League side have tracked Benedetti for months. They also know Palmeiras’ valuation sits close to €20m (£17.2m).
If Arsenal want to move ahead of other European clubs, they may need to be ready once the replacement arrives in Brazil. Until then, Palmeiras are unlikely to formalise talks.
In short, the door is not fully open yet. But it may not stay closed for long either.