Arsenal on verge of £6m transfer of teenage striker Gabriel Martinelli with application for Italian passport only hold up
ARSENAL will tie up the £6milion signing of Gabriel Martinelli after the promising winger celebrated his 18th birthday on Tuesday. A deal was agreed in principle at the beginning of the year with obscure Brazilian club Ituano. Now Arsenal are simply waiting for teenager Martinelli to complete his application for an Italian passport to secure […]
ARSENAL will tie up the £6milion signing of Gabriel Martinelli after the promising winger celebrated his 18th birthday on Tuesday.
A deal was agreed in principle at the beginning of the year with obscure Brazilian club Ituano.
Now Arsenal are simply waiting for teenager Martinelli to complete his application for an Italian passport to secure their first signing of the summer.
Martinelli was recommended by senior scout Francis Cagigao, the man behind the Arsenal signings of Cesc Fabregas, Hector Bellerin and Lauren.
And though both Manchester United and Barcelona passed up on signing the teenager after trials last year, Arsenal are convinced they are buying a future star.
His signing is part of the club’s push to put more emphasis on youth next season.
YOUTH FOCUS
They promoted Under-23 boss Freddie Ljungberg to their senior coaching staff this week.
It has yet to be decided if Martinelli will stay at Arsenal this season or be loaned out to gain more experience of European football before returning to the Emirates next year.
Manager Unai Emery is expected to take a look at a number of the club’s young players on their forthcoming pre-season tour of America.
The Spaniard will then judge their readiness for Premier League football.
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But hopes of signing Dynamo Dresden keeper Markus Schubert are fading as the young German appears to be heading for Schalke.
Arsenal wanted the highly-rated Schubert, 21, as back-up to Bern Leno following the retirement of Petr Cech.
But the German Under-21 international , who is a free agent after reaching the end of his Dresden contract, believes he will have more chances of first team football with Schalke.