Arsenal officials expected in Lisbon today to seal the transfer of Joelson
|Arsenal officials and Kia Joorabchian are expected in Lisbon today to seal the transfer of Sporting’s Joelson Fernandes, according to Portuguese media outlet A Bola.
Joelson Fernandes is the latest graduate of the famed Sporting Lisbon academy that has produced the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma in the past. The 17 year old attacker is very highly rated and has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Sporting academy graduate has a release clause of £41 million. The Portuguese club had offered the player a new deal in a bid to increase his buyout clause. They initially wanted to insert a £91 million release clause but this was rejected by the player’s father, Eusebio Mango Fernandes and his agent, Kia Joorabchian. Sporting relented and suggested a £73 million buyout clause which was also not accepted by Joelson’s camp.
The player is refusing to sign a new deal with the Portuguese club and his representatives believe a move away from Sporting would be in his best interest. He has two years remaining on his current deal. Arsenal are very interested in signing the player this summer and have close ties with Kia Joorabchian which is likely to help them get this deal over the line.
The Gunners will speak with Sporting to find an agreement to sign Joelson Fernandes and the fact that he is unwilling to sign a new contract with the Portuguese club will strengthen Arsenal’s hand in negotiations. If they are unable to strike a deal that satisfies all parties, the Gunners would be willing to trigger the player’s release clause.