The penultimate hurdle in signing Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal seems to have been cleared and Arsenal fans can now look forward to the rest of the season with THREE actual centrebacks at the club.
Informing the media after the game against Brighton on Sunday, Arsene Wenger seemed sure that the deal would be completed today [Monday] and that the work permit would cause no problems.
Despite failing to met the criteria for a work permit – he hasn’t played in 75% of Brazil’s international games –Arsenal were able to argue that the defender was a player of the ‘highest calibre’ and the Home Office agreed.
The player will now undergo a medical [which might even be happening as I type this] and then we can expect Arsenal to announce the deal in around a week – we know they like to take their time over these things.
The only thing to try and work out now is what his actual fee is with some reports claiming that Arsenal have paid his full buy-out clause of £13.5m while others are suggesting the club were able to negotiate an £11.2m transfer fee.