Valencia boss Gennaro Gattuso has seemingly ruled out a deal for Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo in a potential boost for Premier League duo Arsenal and West Ham United, speaking to AS....CONTINUE READING
Gattuso has mellowed somewhat since hanging up his boots but the old fire-breathing dragon may have been left spitting embers this weekend, as the size of the task facing him at the Mestalla became clear.
Valencia look set to lose their star player just days before the Italian’s La Liga debut in charge of Los Che. Goncalo Guedes is set to join long-time admirers Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £27 million deal, as reported by the BBC.
And even Guedes’ big-money departure won’t free up enough funds for Juventus’ Brazil international playmaker Arthur Melo.
“He has a prohibitive salary for us,” Gattuso sighs. “A very great player but we don’t have the possibility of signing this type of player.
“I have no promise (of new signings). But the club knows very well that we have to complete the team. I hope we are going to sign two or three players.”
Will Arsenal or West Ham rescue Arthur Melo from Juventus purgatory?
Arthur’s future remains up in the air with just three weeks of the transfer window remaining.
Marca reported last week that, in addition to Valencia, London giants Arsenal and West Ham were two of the most likely destinations for a man who started just 11 Serie A games under Max Allegri last season.
“There is an interest,” says Arthur’s agent Federico Pastorello, who admits that the former Barcelona man was ‘close’ to joining Arsenal back in January.
“I hope (a transfer) can materialise. He has the desire to go. So the desire is to find a solution for him, because such a strong player does not have to stay and see the others (play instead of him).
“We hope to find a solution.”
Arsenal are certainly in the market for a ball-playing, deep-lying playmaker. But the Gunners appear to be leaning towards Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans; A man proven in the Premier League and free from the shackles of a worrying injury record. Arthur, valued at £40 million, would be more expensive than Tielemans too.
West Ham, meanwhile, appear to be prioritising a more physical option; An Amadou Onana or an Ibrahim Sangare.
And with Adrien Rabiot seemingly bound for Manchester United, it is starting to feel more and more likely that Arthur will be warming the Allianz Stadium bench again in 2022/23.
