Arsenal have returned for Boca Juniors’ Cristian Pavon, and they’re ‘serious’ about signing the winger in January, according to the media in Argentina.

Luis Fregossi of Boca radio station Mundo Boca Radio claims Arsenal have come for Pavon and “this time they seem to be serious”. He adds that the Gunners want the winger in the January transfer window, and Boca have reportedly asked for €40m (£35.9m) as a transfer fee.

Football.London reported last month that initial talks have already taken place between Boca Juniors and Arsenal over the potential for a deal.

Arsenal head of football Raul Sanllehi is reportedly a ‘big admirer’ of the forward, who is believed to have a £44.5m release clause with his current club. It seems the Argentinian side would be willing to negotiate a deal for slightly less than the clause though.

Ever since the links to Pavon first emerged, it’s always been clear that Boca Juniors would only consider selling once their Copa Libertadores run had come to an end. That happened last weekend, as Boca lost to River Plate in the final.

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 09: Cristian Pavon of Boca Juniors runs with the ball under pressure from Julian Alvarez of River Plate during the second leg of the final match of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2018 between Boca Juniors and River Plate at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 9, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. Due to the violent episodes of November 24th at River Plate stadium, CONMEBOL rescheduled the game and moved it out of Americas for the first time in history. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 09: Cristian Pavon of Boca Juniors runs with the ball under pressure from Julian Alvarez of River Plate during the second leg of the final match of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2018 between Boca Juniors and River Plate at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 9, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. Due to the violent episodes of November 24th at River Plate stadium, CONMEBOL rescheduled the game and moved it out of Americas for the first time in history. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

The Copa Libertadores runs from March to November, whilst the Argentine league runs from August to May, so there’s some overlap whichever way you look at Pavon’s stats. To keep it simple, since August 2017 the winger has 11 goals and 19 assists in 47 club appearances.

Pavon also has a couple of assists for Argentina since making his debut in November 2017. The winger is yet to fully break into the starting lineup, with three starts and eight substitute appearances since then, but he’s certainly a regular in the squad when fit.

A top dribbler and chance creator, Pavon could certainly add something to Arsenal in wide areas. We’ll see if the club’s transfer team make a move in January.