The Portuguese media have provided a couple of updates on Fabio Vieira’s spell with Porto, both in terms of his planned return to Arsenal and the possibility of a permanent move.
Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira is approaching the end of his loan spell with FC Porto, with one league game remaining against Nacional. But there has been some uncertainty about what happens after that, with Porto playing in the Club World Cup.
Loan moves generally come to an end on June 30th, but that would be midway through the tournament. So Arsenal and Porto would have had to reach an agreement over allowing him to stay for the whole thing, with no reports confirming the situation either way.
Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness) claimed on Thursday that Vieira will indeed stay until after the competition, so that’s one mystery solved.
The other big question is whether Vieira might remain at Porto past the end of his current loan, either on another loan or as a permanent (re-)signing.
Jornal de Noticias claim Vieira could stay beyond this summer, and Porto will try to keep him around. Negotiations are planned with Arsenal, and the club are considering a permanent move.
Yet Record had claimed the opposite, suggesting that with no buy clause in Vieira’s loan deal he’d simply return to north London. Time will tell which of the two is right.
Vieira has provided 10 goals or assists for Porto in 38 matches this season, and he’s been a regular start for the side in recent months. If Arsenal hoped this year would get the player going again after his injuries, that goal appears to have been achieved.