Arsenal is reportedly preparing a massive £83m bid to secure the services of Brazilian defender Vitor Reis in the January transfer window. The Gunners are keen to fend off interest from rivals, including Real Madrid and Tottenham, to land the 18-year-old sensation.
After a summer of strategic spending, where Arsenal splashed out £90m to reinforce their squad with the likes of Riccardo Calafiori for £42m and permanently signing David Raya for £30m, Mikel Arteta is now targeting Reis to bolster the defense further.
The Palmeiras defender has a reported £83m release clause, but Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, might negotiate a deal closer to £29m for the promising youngster.
Reis has impressed in Brazil’s top flight, making 11 league appearances for Palmeiras and earning recognition on the international stage with Brazil’s youth teams. While primarily a centre-back, he has the versatility to play across the backline, making him an attractive option for Arteta’s evolving side.
Palmeiras’ academy head, Joao Paulo Sampaio, recently confirmed that the club turned down previous offers for the young defender, but he hinted that Reis could soon become the most expensive Brazilian defender in history, with a potential sale after the 2025 Club World Cup.
With competition heating up from Real Madrid, Arsenal will look to move swiftly in January to lock down the highly-rated defender before their European rivals make their move.
Whether Arsenal will meet the £83m release clause or negotiate a lower fee remains to be seen, but Reis’s talent has caught the eye of top clubs, and his future could be decided sooner rather than later.