Arsenal remain in talks over a deal for Flamengo centre-back Pablo Mari after holding negotiations with him over the weekend.
The Gunners have been on the hunt for a defender throughout January after Calum Chambers was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
They are now working on bringing in Mari, and the centre-back landed in London on Saturday lunchtime having travelled from Brazil with Arsenal’s technical director, Edu.
The defender, as was always planned, has now gone back to Brazil as talks over a deal for him continue.
Arsenal want to strike a loan deal for Mari, that could be made permanent in the summer for around £7million.
The Spaniard previously spent three seasons at Manchester City after joining them in 2016, but he was loaned out for all of them.
He has reinvented himself at Flamengo after joining them last year and the squad would be sad to see him go.
“I saw the news. He is a guy that is needed in any club,” left-back Rene told reporters in Brazil.
“He is a very high quality athlete, who adapted well to Brazilian football.”
