Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger eyeing Villarreal CB

Arsenal are in talks to sign Villarreal centre-back Gabriel Paulista but any deal is likely to hinge on obtaining a work permit for the 24-year-old Brazilian.


Manager Arsène Wenger has been hugely impressed by the form of Paulista during an unbeaten run at Villarreal that dates back to the beginning of November and has been built on a miserly defence. He regards Paulista as a potential short and long-term answer to Arsenal’s shortage of defenders but there are still obstacles to overcome both with regards to a fee and work permit.

Arsenal are understood to be proposing an initial fee of around £6 million that could potentially rise beyond £10 million while Villarreal are holding out for their release clause of £15.25 million (€20m) being met. There is also competing interest from Manchester United but Paulista himself has already indicated that he would be keen on a move to Arsenal.

The fact that Villarreal are among the clubs interested in Joel Campbell could also work to Arsenal’s advantage, although Wenger would have some reservations about allowing a third attacker to leave this month, even on loan, after Lukas Podolski and Yaya Sanogo respectively joined Inter Milan and Crystal Palace.

Whether Paulista would qualify for a UK work permit is also uncertain. Work permit rules for players without an EU passport state that they must be an international from a country ranked within Fifa’s top 70 and have played 75 per cent of their international matches in the last two years. This criteria, however, can be relaxed and there is an appeals process run by the Football Association on behalf of the Home Office.

Paulista is yet to play for Brazil and Arsenal would certainly want to avoid any repeat of the situations with Joel Campbell and Carlos Vela, who first played on loan abroad before their work permits were confirmed. “The subject is being discussed by my agent and the club,” Paulista said. “If I go to Arsenal it will be excellent. But if it's not finalised then I am relaxed. I am focused on my work here.

"My agent is working on making sure I continue being calm. Playing in the Premier League is one of my dreams. I have spoken to my agent about this."

Arsenal are watching several other players but have currently ended their interest in Saint-Étienne defender Loïc Perrin and would be reluctant to pay the £7 million that West Ham United want for a player in Winston Reid who is out of contract this summer.


By Jeremy Wilson, Telegraph

Wenger has acknowledged his need for another centre-back after starting the season with just Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as the only two senior players with experience in the position. Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal have since covered with varying success but Thomas Vermaelen was never replaced last summer while Bacary Sagna – another option in the position - also left.