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Arsenal are still looking to finalize a deal for Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque ahead of the summer transfer window, reportedly.
The Gunners are having a great season in the Premier League with Mikel Arteta’s side currently top the Premier League table, four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola’s men have a game in hand.
Gabriel Jesus’ injury which ruled him out for a few months highlighted Arsenal’s lack of depth up front with only Eddie Nketiah – who was right to replace the Brazilian international – their only other option up front.
And there have been a number of forwards linked to a move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer transfer window with Roque’s name appearing on a number of occasions.
Athletico Paranaense paid Roque’s £3.8m release clause to buy him from Brazilian side Cruzeiro last summer with the young forward signing a five-year deal.
Roque, who is reportedly valued at €50m (£44m), made 14 starts in his 29 appearances during his first season at the club and contributed five goals and two assists with the 18-year-old attracting l interest from a number of big European clubs.
And now Spanish publication Sports world say Arsenal are «pushing hard» to sign the Brazilian and that the Gunners would be «well placed» but «not so much».
They explain that Chelsea are actually the «most interested» in Roque and are «moving quickly» to «convince those around him» that a move to Stamford Bridge would be the right move for him.
Athletico Paranaense has already understood ‘that they won’t be able to keep the player and that they will have to sell him to a European club’.
Another forward linked to Arsenal is Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins – which has been in red-hot shape recently – with Football Transfers saying the Gunners are «keeping an eye on him».
Arsenal «have a long-standing interest» in Watkins and it would be «a dream» for the England international to wear a Gunners shirt.
But transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano insists he is «not aware of anything advanced at this stage» about a possible move to Arsenal.
Romano wrote in his Caught offside column: “I’ve had Arsenal fans ask me about the reports on Ollie Watkins – I can tell I’m not aware of anything advanced at this stage with any club. He is doing very well and is focused only on Villa.
«I’m sure he’s capable of making the step towards one of the so-called ‘big six’, but we also have to respect Villa because the project is ambitious and Unai Emery is there to help them grow.»
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