Arsenal are reportedly close to completing the loan signing of Flamengo defender Pablo Mari.
The 26-year-old, the first Spaniard to ever win the Libertadores, has arrived in London for a medical this weekend.
It’s understood that there will be an option to buy Mari stipulated in the deal, with Sky Sports reporting that the Gunners are locked in talks with the Brazilian side.
Mari previously signed for reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in 2016, but never made a first-team appearance for them.
He subsequently went out on loan for three successive seasons to Girona, NAC and Deportivo La Coruna, before joining Flamengo on a permanent deal last summer.
The 26-year-old would become Mikel Arteta’s first signing since taking over as Arsenal’s head coach last month.
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Meanwhile, the Gunners are exploring the possibility of signing Thomas Lemar from Atletico Madrid this month.
RMC Sport claim the north London side are in talks with the LaLiga side over a potential deal, but no agreement is close to being agreed as things stand.
The Gunners are also rumoured to be in contact with the player, but to date only tentative discussions have taken place.
Lemar joined Atletico from Monaco in a £52.7m deal in 2018, but has strugled to make an impact for Diego Simeone’s side.
