Arsenal readying £36m bid to sign highly-rated 23-year-old winger

Arsenal are understood to be preparing a formal approach for Gremio’s Everton Soares as they seek to bolster their wider attacking department ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

The north London side have shown a keen intent on pursuing a new winger this summer and so far, they have failed with an official £40m offer to land Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace.

Unai Emery’s side have yet to make a renewed bid for the Eagles star, and a report from Globo Esporte claims that the club may have shifted their attention towards Soares, who was recently part of Brazil’s Copa America- winning team.

Brazilian radio station Grenal first broke the story earlier in the month where they suggested that the Gunners’ chiefs could meet up with Gremio to finalise a move for the attacker.

Now, Globo Esporte has gone further by stating that the Gunners are willing to make a formal £36m offer, although they could yet face competition from the likes of Napoli, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

Soares has already hinted that he could be pursuing a fresh challenge away from Gremio and the Gunners’ prospects of signing him could be enhanced from the presence of Edu Gaspar in their ranks.

Edu, who is currently the club’s technical director, has previously worked with Brazil as their co-ordinator and he should have a good example of what Soares brings to the table for the Gunners.

In the recent Copa America tournament, Soares flourished for his national side with three goals and an assist, and he was rewarded with the Golden Boot while bagging the man of the match accolade in the final.

The 23-year-old requires some time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League but the Gunners should surely take the gamble on the Brazilian, given he has a keen eye for goal from a wider position, something which the club have lacked since the departure of Alexis Sanchez.