According to reports, Lyon star Lucas Paqueta is ‘inclined to leave’ this summer and the Arsenal target is available for £34m.
The 24-year-old joined Lyon in 2020 from Serie A side AC Milan for £17m. He has been a standout performer for them over the past two seasons.
The Brazil international has grabbed 21 goals and 13 assists in 77 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit across all competitions.
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Pacqueta has been heavily linked with Arsenal and Newcastle United in recent months. It has previously been claimed that he is valued at £68m.
French outlet Media Foot are now reporting that Lyon will cash in this summer if clubs bid £34m for Pacqueta.
The player is ‘inclined to leave’ this summer as he is ready ‘to explode’ at another club.
Lyon ‘would like to keep’ Pacqueta but they are clear on the situation. The report notes that Arsenal are yet to lodge an official bid to sign him.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have reportedly ‘resumed’ talks with Juventus over the signing of midfielder Arthur Melo.
The 25-year-old – who moved to Juventus from Barcelona for £68m in the summer of 2020 – was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January and was pushing to leave the Serie A side as his game time reduced under Max Allegri.
The Brazilian – whose value now stands at just £16.2m, according to Transfermarkt – has started just 23 Serie A games in his two seasons in Turin, contributing just one goal and one assist in that time.
The Gunners’ interest in the winter window was confirmed by the player’s agent and TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness) now claim Mikel Arteta’s side have reignited that interest.
The report claims the proposed transfer has ‘warmed up again’ in the last few hours and talks between the two clubs have ‘resumed’.
Juventus are set to travel to the United States for their preseason tour on Thursday, but it’s claimed Arthur could remain in Italy amid the uncertainty over his future.
The ‘next few days can be important’ for the midfielder, with a return to Barcelona also mooted, and Roma also considering an approach.
