Sporting CP rejected an opening bid of €20m from Arsenal for teenage winger Joelson Fernandes this week, according to reports in Portugal.

Sporting's Portuguese forward Joelson Fernandes (L) challenges Vitoria Setubal's Portuguese forward Zequinha Branco during the Portuguese League football match between Sporting CP and Vitoria FC at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on July 21, 2020. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
Sporting’s Joelson Fernandes (L) challenges Vitoria Setubal’s Zequinha Branco on July 21, 2020. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

A Bola report that Arsenal placed an opening bid of €20m with Sporting for Joelson Fernandes.

The Portuguese club rejected the offer almost immediately, as it’s far short of what they want for the player.

Joelson has a release clause of €45m, and Sporting are only planning to give up the player for that amount. On the other hand, Arsenal know Sporting’s financial difficulties, and they’re apparently hoping they can use that to negotiate a discount.

Joelson Fernandes with Sporting CP (Photo via Fernandes on Instagram)
Joelson Fernandes with Sporting CP (Photo via Fernandes on Instagram)

Arsenal will also be well aware of the 17-year-old’s contract, which only lasts until 2022.

If Sporting don’t sell now, they run the risk of losing him for even less next summer, or for free at just 19-years-old the year after.

If they can’t convince the player to sign a new contract, they either have to sell or hope he has a huge year to attract interest from all the top clubs around Europe.

Either that or they’ll see his value to them disappear.

Joelson made his first four senior appearances for Sporting last month, coming off the bench on each occasion.