Arsenal keep a close eye on Brazilian forward Vitor Roque

Although other teams are also interested in Vitor Roque of Club Athletico Paranaense, Arsenal deployed scouts to monitor him

Five elite European teams are reportedly keeping tabs on the center-forward, including Barcelona. Much more than the previously estimated €40m, Roque’s camp apparently wants roughly €60m to let the 17-year-old go. Despite the exorbitant cost, manager Mikel Arteta is said to have supported Arsenal’s interest in Roque. According to reports, the Arsenal have begun preliminary exploratory discussions and are talking about the prospect of pressing for the young striker.

Roque’s release clause, though, is rumoured to be as high as €100 million, so if Arsenal wanted to sign the player, they would need to negotiate the price down. The young Brazilian will turn 18 later this month, making him eligible for a summer transfer to Europe. In 52 games for Athletico-PR and Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in 2022, Roque has contributed five assists and 14 goals across all club competitions. In his 11 games with the national team, the Brazilian striker, who is also a Brazil U20 international, has six goals and two assists.

These all came from Brazil’s excellent U20 South American Championship campaign, which saw his team win the tournament. In addition to UOL, Goal has also claimed that the competition for Roque includes Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona. Arsenal’s Technical Director, Edu Gaspar, is said to have spoken with Roque’s agent, although the club has not yet presented a specific offer.

Although Roque is under contract with Athletico-PR through 2027, the team is well-positioned to turn down lowball offers. Despite this, Arsenal appears to be quite interested in signing the talented Brazilian striker, and talks may go on into the forthcoming summer transfer season.

In conclusion, Arsenal and other elite European teams are showing interest in Vitor Roque, a young player who has shown promise. Despite the expensive cost, it appears that the Gunners are eager to sign the player, but they will need to bargain with Athletico-PR for a lower fee.

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