According to FootballTransfers, Arsenal are considering Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia as a potential January addition to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the most exciting possibilities in Brazilian football at the moment, with an ETV of €11.6 million.
Indeed, after being handed a reconnaissance assignment by sporting director Edu, who previously worked with Xavier with the Brazil national team in 2016, new Arsenal scout Paulo Xavier’s first job was to monitor Maia.
Arsenal has been keeping tabs on Pablo for several weeks, with reports of their interest initially surfacing in November. They are now preparing to act on that, as other options are becoming problematic.
The Emirates have mostly pursued Douglas Luiz and Joao Palhinha of Aston Villa and Fulham, respectively, as January targets, but both transactions are difficult.
With the possibility of completing a deal for any of these players next month dwindling, the Gunners are prepared to turn to an increasingly familiar source of players for them.
In recent seasons, Arsenal has attempted to capitalize on the South American market by signing Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano in 2019 and Marquinhos from Sao Paulo in 2022.
Pablo Maia is the latest Brazilian star to be linked with a move to Arsenal as a replacement for Thomas Partey.
Maia is one of numerous promising young Brazilian players. The kid, who has already made over 100 appearances for his club, is one of several Brazilian prospects Arsenal has been monitoring in recent months, with Marcos Leonardo being the most notable.
2023: Pablo Maia vs. Brazilian Serie A midfielders
Pablo Maia, what kind of player are you?
Pablo Maia is generally a deep-lying midfielder who was a standout in Brazil’s Serie A during the 2023 season.
Pablo was brilliant in terms of ball retention and finishing, according to data analytics experts SciSports, while his positioning is another facet of his game that is a particular strength.
He was, however, less effective defensively, scoring poorly in terms of recoveries and pressuring.
More information on the Premier League, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Fulham, Sao Paulo, Douglas Luiz, Joao Palhinha, and Pablo Maia can be found here.
