Arsenal were interested in signing Flamengo midfielder Gerson, according to the players’ father.  Marcao did not reveal when the Gunners made the offer for the 22-year-old, but suggested Raul Sanllehi was the key driving force behind the negotiations:

“Nobody knew about Arsenal, but now that I’m telling you, everyone will know.”

Following the signing of Pablo Mari from the Brazilian club, Arsenal do have a good relationship with Flamengo so a bid for the player could still be a possibility.

However, Yahoo Esportes, who conducted the interview with Marcao, then asked him whether the likes of Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund were keen on signing his son and he replied:

“Everyone you hear there is true. But they only enquired.”

Gerson has played in Europe before, having moved from Fluminense to Roma in 2016 but after three years in Italy, and a loan spell at Fiorentina, he returned to his homeland last July.

He usually plays as a holding midfielder, and manager Mikel Arteta is said to be seeking someone in his position when the transfer window reopens. Whether the Gunners will revive their interest in the Brazilian, we shall see.