Arsenal transfer target will be sold in January as Gunners 'prepare offer'

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 14 Dec 2023 17:57 GMT
• 3 min read

Santos will look to sell Marcos Leonardo in January, with Arsenal said to be ‘preparing an offer’ to sign the striker for a fee of €20 million, according to reports in Brazil.

Leonardo has been a bright point in an otherwise disastrous season for Santos, with the Brazilian giants being relegated from Serie A for the first time in their history.

The demotion has all but confirmed the need to cash in on Leonardo and Brazilian outlet r7 has claimed the player does not want to return to Santos, while the club themselves will be under new management from January.

The new regime is believed to be keen to restructure the squad and quickly resolve Leonardo’s future, with negotiations not expected to be difficult as long as Santos receive any fee largely in cash, with the club’s ‘coffers empty’ following the relegation.

The report also claims that Leonardo ‘must not return’ when the new regime takes over in January, while Santos will only receive 70% of any fee, with the forward retaining the rest.

Leonardo finally hoping to leave Santos

Leonardo had been hoping to leave Santos during the summer but the 20-year-old opted to see out the season after a release clause was added to his contract, which is valid until 2026.

However, while the release clause is thought to be around €18m, that amount represents the 70% owed to Santos, meaning the total fee payable could be more than €23m.

Arsenal see Leonardo as a top target and are thought to be willing to make a bid worth €20m, although Manchester United are also said to be interested in the player, who is represented by the agent of Erling Haaland, Rafaela Pimenta.

Roma had made an approach for Leonardo during the summer but their offer of €12m was rejected, particularly with Santos having sold Angelo and Deivid Washington to Chelsea in the same window.

The decision to sell Leonardo’s teammates but not him is said to have ‘generated irritation’ with the player’s camp but he now looks set to get his long-awaited move to Europe this winter.