Arsenal are in direct competition with Liverpool for the signing of talented Fluminense midfielder André, according to Brazilian journalist Thiago Ferreira.
Although the Gunners currently have a squad well covered in the defensive midfield position with the likes of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, and Mohamed Elneny, it appears that manager Mikel Arteta is looking to further strengthen this area.
The signing that Arsenal wants to steal from Liverpool
According to Ferreira, Arsenal have shown strong interest in the promising 22-year-old footballer and are willing to compete with Liverpool for his signature, possibly in the 2024 transfer window.
Although it is not specified whether Arsenal will make a move in January, the possibility is being raised as Liverpool are seriously considering a bid for André. During the summer, Jurgen Klopp’s team had already shown interest in the midfielder, but Fluminense refused to sell him mid-season.
Arsenal currently has several quality defensive midfielders, and we are likely to see Thomas Partey and Declan Rice start in future fixtures, especially now that Partey has recovered from a recent injury.
The possible arrival of André to Arsenal could lead to the departure of Jorginho or Mohamed Elneny since one of them could be expendable. Elneny, despite renewing his contract after suffering a knee injury during the January transfer window, has played a marginal role in the team.
André represents an interesting addition for the Gunners, as he is a midfielder with outstanding skills with the ball at his feet and impressive passing accuracy, reaching 95% in the Brazilian league. In addition, he is a strong player in defensive work, averaging 2.1 innings and 5.5 duels won per game. However, his weakness lies in aerial duels.
André’s decision to join Arsenal will ultimately depend on whether the club can convince him to move to north London without the guarantee of a starting place that Liverpool could offer him. At Liverpool, they do not currently have a top-class defensive midfielder, which could increase their chances of having a leading role in the starting lineup.
