Gunners defender set to depart.
Arsenal left-back Andre Santos is closing in on a move to Brazilian outfit Gremio.
Check in to Sunderland vs Arsenal
The Porto Alegre club have turned to Santos, 29, after missing out on former Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua, who has joined Atletico Madrid from Sporting Lisbon.
“André Santos is one of our interests. We talked with Arsenal, but there is nothing certain. It is a very difficult negotiation,” Gremio president Fabio Koff is quoted as saying by SambaFoot.
Gremio have problems at left-back, with another former Liverpool player, Fabio Aurelio, currently unfit and Alex Telles, a new signing from Juventude, too inexperienced for first-team duties.
Despite reports suggesting Santos has signed for the Brazilians, the Daily Mirror’s football correspondent John Cross has insisted a deal is yet to be done and claims there is also interest in Santos from Turkey.
Santos has struggled since joining the Gunners from Fenerbahce on August transfer deadline day 2011.
The former Corinthians player has struggled with form and fitness and was villified by Arsenal fans after swapping shirts with Robin van Persie – who left the Emirates Stadium to join Man United in the summer – at half-time during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in November.
COMMENTS