Arsenal are steadily moving toward agreeing a deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Bitello from Gremio.

• Arsenal are reportedly in talks for Gremio’s Brazilian midfielder Bitello in a potential deal worth around £6.8m.
• Arsenal’s director of football Edu is believed to have utilised his South American links to orchestrate the move.
• Despite conflicting reports about the state of negotiations, Bitello remains a key target for Arsenal’s transfer plans this summer.

The Gunners’ summer activity has been eventful, with Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz, and Declan Rice already joining the Arsenal ranks.

The new acquisitions are part of the club’s plans to build on their last season’s success, which saw them finish 2nd in the Premier League.

As per reports from tuttomercatoweb, the North London side are now interested in bringing Gremio’s Bitello on board, an interest that has been confirmed.

The 23-year-old midfielder has an estimated value of £6.8m, which is less than the initially suggested £8.5m.

Bitello has been on Arsenal’s radar for some time and it seems the club is now on the verge of integrating the young Brazilian into their squad.

It was earlier speculated that Bitello would be heading to Italy, with numerous Serie A clubs showing interest in the midfielder. However, it appears that Arsenal has managed to outpace other potential suitors.

Bitello joined Gremio in 2021 and has since made 50 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals.

If the deal materialises, he would follow Gabriel Martinelli and Marquinhos in moving from Brazil to Arsenal, both of whom have successfully transitioned into the Gunners’ set-up.

Despite Arsenal’s strong interest, the situation remains somewhat fluid.

CaughtOffside’s Fabrizio Romano suggests that the transfer negotiations are not as advanced as claimed by some sources.

Nonetheless, Arsenal’s technical director Edu Gaspar is reportedly maintaining contact with Gremio to try and seal the deal.

Meanwhile, Gremio are keen on retaining Bitello until the end of the year, even if a sale agreement is reached this summer, adding an extra layer of complexity to the deal.

With Gremio currently competing in the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil and sitting second in the Brazilian Serie A, Bitello’s presence is deemed vital.

Bitello’s versatility, which sees him comfortable in a central role or on the right flank, makes him an attractive prospect for Arsenal as a potential backup to Bukayo Saka.

However, only time will tell whether this deal will come to fruition.