Fluminense are preparing formal documents to complete a loan move for Arsenal’s Marquinhos, with reports suggesting it will include an option to buy.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Fluminense are preparing the formal documents to complete the signing of Marquinhos from Arsenal, with the loan move already agreed between the two clubs.

Fluminense boss Fernando Diniz has all but confirmed the transfer himself, in a recent interview with the media.

“There are a few more players,” Diniz said of his squad. “When Alexsander and John Kennedy return, in addition to the arrival of Marquinhos, we will probably have some other ways out.

“Fluminense managed to sign very well. I’m very happy with who the club signed.”

Though the contract is set to be an initial loan, reports suggest the deal will include an option to buy. Fluminense will also pay Arsenal an undisclosed fee for the loan.

After being recalled from his first loan to FC Nantes, Marquinhos initially expected to return to Arsenal for the remainder of the season.

The player himself had suggested as much in a recent interview at the Pre-Olympic Tournament.

“I’m very focused on having a great Pre-Olympics,” Marquinhos said.

“[Then] to return to Arsenal confident, to continue the work there, so that, God willing, I can be at the next Olympics.”

It was that same Pre-Olympic Tournament that caused Arsenal to recall Marquinhos from Nantes in the first place.

The 20-year-old had joined Ligue 1 club Nantes on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window, but they then had a dispute over his call-up by the Brazil u23s for this month’s tournament.

The tournament kicked off on January 20th and Marquinhos will remain at the event until February 11th.

That would have meant another four weeks away from Nantes, with Marquinhos already having taken time off to win the Pan American Games with Brazil in November.

Marquinhos didn’t play a match for Nantes for two months around the games, and they were clearly unwilling to let him go on a temporary basis once again.

Brazil have made it to the final group stage of their Olympic qualifiers, and they’ve won one and lost one of their two games so far.

A win in their final match against Argentina would qualify them for the summer tournament, any other result will leave them at risk of missing out.