Arteta closing in on January priority after UNEXPECTED twist

Robin Bairner

7 Dec 2023 01:37 CST
4 min read

Santos striker Marcos Leonardo is linked with Arsenal — © ProShots

Arsenal’s pursuit of talented Santos striker Marcos Leonardo has been given a boost by the fact that the Brazilian side have suffered a historic relegation.

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Santos’ demise was confirmed on Wednesday as they lost 2-1 at home to Fortaleza, a result that left them 17th in the Serie A standings, having lost their last three matches of the season. It is the first time in their history that they have been relegated.

Although they conceded a goal deep in stoppage time to an opponent that ultimately finished 10th, this had no bearing on the final standing. A goal of their own to win the match, however, would have seen them safe.

For Arsenal, though, this is an ideal opportunity to pounce on a player that FootballTransfers revealed they have prioritised ahead of the January transfer window.

Manager Mikel Arteta wants to bring in Marcos Leonardo alongside a more experienced No.9 to provide more of an attacking threat to his Arsenal side, with Gabriel Jesus’ goal against Luton on Tuesday just his second Premier League strike of the season.

The Gunners presently top the standings of England’s top-flight, but the consensus at the club is that they could use more firepower to ensure they stay there.

Marcos Leonardo, who is 20 years old and shone at the U20 FIFA World Cup, is a player they have targeted, with the forward one of the bright sparks for Santos in what has been a dreadful campaign.

Across all competitions during the 2023 season, he scored 21 goals in 49 matches, including 13 in 31 outings in the league.

Ultimately, this was not enough to save Santos, but it was sufficient to see the Brazil U20 international catch the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Arsenal face competition for Marcos Leonardo

FootballTransfers’ exclusively revealed Real Madrid’s interest in the forward, while West Ham and Newcastle have been linked with a move for the player, whose agent Rafaela Pimenta admitted in November that a transfer is coming, confirming our information that he will soon be on the move.

"Already in the previous transfer market he had the possibility of being sold, but Santos’ sporting situation was very particular,” she is quoted as saying in the Italian media.

"He agreed to stay because he wanted to help out until the end of the championship. He didn’t want to leave because it wasn’t the right thing to do.

"But the time has come to move. He wants to have a European experience and his time will come this winter."

Arsenal, though, are leading the way for Marcos Leonardo and Santos’ relegation could act as a catalyst to getting their man.