Arsenal are one of the clubs monitoring Santos striker Marcos Leonardo, who dreams of playing in the Premier League someday.

Venezuela's Tachira Azmahar Ariano (L) and Brazil's Santos Marcos Leonardo (R) vie for the ball during their Copa Sudamericana football tournament round-of-sixteen second-leg match, at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Brazil, on July 6, 2022. (Photo by PAULO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)
Venezuela’s Tachira Azmahar Ariano (L) and Brazil’s Santos Marcos Leonardo (R) vie for the ball during their Copa Sudamericana football tournament round-of-sixteen second-leg match, at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium in Santos, Brazil, on July 6, 2022. (Photo by PAULO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Calciomercato report that Napoli, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur are all following Santos striker Marcos Leonardo, but a recent interview with the player suggests the Premier League sides have an advantage.

“I want to play in the Premier League one day,” Leonardo said. “I watch a lot of games, and it is one of the main championships in the world.

“Not only for the competition among the teams, but also for the whole league. The proof is that English clubs always arrive in finals like the Champions League. It’s a competition full of big stars.”

Before that, however, it seems Leonardo has his sights set on being a success with Santos and breaking into the Brazilian national team.

“First of all, I want to make history with the Santos shirt,” he continued. “Then I want to manage to get to the Brazilian national team.

“I’m doing well in the youth categories, but my focus is on having the chance to represent my country in a World Cup, wearing the number 9 shirt.

“I believe these are my two biggest goals at the moment. I want to play in Europe, but I see that I have to complete stages before any kind of opportunity to do that.”

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Marcos Leonardo of Santos makes an attempt on target during the match between Corinthians and Santos as part of Brasileirao Series A 2022 at Neo Quimica Arena on June 25, 2022. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: Marcos Leonardo of Santos makes an attempt on target during the match between Corinthians and Santos as part of Brasileirao Series A 2022 at Neo Quimica Arena on June 25, 2022. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)

Brazil operates on a calendar-year format, so Santos are now seven games away from the end of their season.

In a way, that might make the January transfer window the best time to swoop for the 19-year-old. It will be more difficult to convince Santos to sell in the summer, in the middle of their campaign.

Though the player is clearly hoping to break into the Brazil squad first, it would be beneficial for a potential buyer to pick him up before that happens and his value skyrockets.

Leonardo has scored 19 goals and provided five assists in all competitions this year, playing 50 games so far. You can be fairly certain Edu will be keeping an eye on him.