William Saliba
Arsenal’s pursuit of Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães may be dominating headlines, but the Gunners could complete another signing even sooner. It’s part of the plan to cover William Saliba’s injury.
That update comes from ESPN Brazil journalist Bruno Andrade. He revealed on live television that Arsenal are close to finalising the arrival of a centre-back.
While he stressed he has not yet been given the player’s identity, he described the move as more advanced than the club’s negotiations with Newcastle United for Bruno Guimarães – which he believes could be done by the end of the weekend.
“I don’t have the name here, so I can’t call it an exclusive,” Andrade said. “But speaking to someone involved in Bruno Guimarães’ situation, Arsenal are close to signing a centre-back to solve, for now, the issue created by Saliba’s injury.”
“They haven’t given me the name yet. I’m trying to find out so I can help our English colleagues too, but it’s a deal that will happen even faster than the Bruno Guimarães transfer. It’s really imminent.”
The key point is that Andrade was adamant a defender is on the way. However, the identity remains unknown.
Portugal may offer some clues
Bruno Andrade is based in Portugal. He has built much of his reporting around Portuguese football and the country’s transfer market.
That naturally raises the possibility that the defender in question could be playing in the Primeira Liga, although there is nothing yet to confirm that.
Coincidentally, Arsenal have recently been linked with a central defenders from one of Portugal’s biggest clubs. Sporting defender Zeno Debast recently emerged as a surprise candidate in recent days. Reports claim Arsenal are monitoring the Belgium international.
The 22-year-old impressed during his first season in Lisbon after arriving from Anderlecht and has attracted attention with his composure in possession and ability to play through the lines.
There are also ongoing rumours around Gonçalo Inácio at Sporting and Benfica’s Tomás Araújo. Both have repeatedly been linked with Premier League clubs over the past years… And both are expected to be sold this summer. They are among the standout young defenders in Portuguese football.
Big shoes to fill
With Saliba established as one of Arsenal’s most important players, replacing him – even temporarily – requires a defender capable of immediately competing at Premier League level.
That appears to narrow the realistic shortlist considerably. Among the defenders currently surrounded by transfer speculation in Portugal, Debast, Inácio and Araújo are arguably the three names with both the pedigree and market profile to make sense for Arsenal.
For now, though, that remains educated speculation. What Bruno Andrade was willing to state publicly is more significant. Arsenal are on the verge of signing a centre-back. And the deal is expected to move faster than the one involving Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães.