Arsenal have a lot of work to do with outgoings this summer.
Andrea Berta replaced Edu Gaspar in March, and he has done an incredible job so far. Signing six new players is never easy, but to do that along with three key contract extensions is incredible work.
However, Berta’s big test now is player sales. Edu and everyone who preceded him always struggled with departures, and things have not been easy in this window either.
Now, the Arsenal sporting director has been given an ultimatum by one club he has been negotiating with.
Fabio Vieira has been on Arsenal’s books for three years.
The Portuguese midfielder was viewed as a big talent when the Gunners brought him from Porto, and he has shown flashes of his brilliance in the famous red and white.
However, Vieira has not been able to nail down a regular spot for himself at the Emirates, and he was even loaned out to Porto last season.
Now, the 25-year-old is back at Arsenal, but he is expected to be moved on.
Bundesliga side Stuttgart have been in talks to sign Vieira for a few weeks now, and they have now made a take-it-or-leave-it proposal to Arsenal.
The Sun’s Jordan Davies claimed on X that the Gunners have informed that £17 million is the most that Stuttgart will pay – including add-ons.
Berta had been demanding £25 million, but the German side have made it clear that if Arsenal don’t lower that asking price, they will drop their interest in Vieira and sign someone else.
Davies tweeted: “Arsenal told by Stuttgart to lower their demands for Fabio Vieira.
“The Germans only want to pay a maximum of £17 million including add-ons, while Arsenal are eyeing a deal closer to £25 million. Stuttgart are ready to move to other targets if talks break down.”
Vieira is a really talented player.
The former Porto man is very versatile, has incredible vision and is capable of scoring goals too. However, consistency has been his biggest issue.
Mikel Arteta has admitted in the past that Vieira deserved more minutes at Arsenal, but he never got it.
“We’re really happy with him, I think he deserves more minutes than he’s had, especially in the last two months,” Arteta said in March 2023 after a game against Sporting CP, as per the Evening Standard.
“You saw tonight he was one of our dangerous players, making things happen, and he’s a player that I absolutely love.”
As good as Vieira is, it’s time for Arsenal to get the best deal they can and move him on. He will not play a single minute this season – Martin Odegaard, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman are all ahead of him, and that will not change.
It’s time for both parties to go their separate ways.
