Arsenal is contemplating a bid for a player valued at £83 million this January, facing competition from Real Madrid and others for the transfer.
This summer, Arsenal spent approximately £90 million without overspending. They acquired defender Riccardo Calafiori for £42 million, made David Raya’s loan permanent for £30 million, and signed Spanish international Mikel Merino for £27.4 million plus add-ons. Raheem Sterling and Neto joined on season-long loans. Mikel Arteta hopes these new additions will elevate his team after two consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League. The club’s next opportunity to recruit will be in January.
According to The Boot Room (TBR), Arsenal has expressed interest in Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis, who has an £83 million release clause in his contract. However, sporting director Edu may hesitate to pay such a high fee for an untested 18-year-old. The report also mentions that a deal around £29 million might be possible.
TBR notes that both Real Madrid and Arsenal’s rivals, Tottenham, are also interested in the player. Reis is reportedly open to a move in 2025 but could agree to a transfer in January. Primarily a centre-back, he has played across the defensive line and has appeared in 11 league matches for Palmeiras this season.
Joao Paulo Sampaio, head of Palmeiras’ academy, recently discussed Reis’s future, stating, “There were two teams that talked about [signing Reis for] €30 million and Palmeiras refused.” He added, “Vitor Reis will be the most expensive defender in the history of Brazil, sold for around €35 million euros.” Sampaio indicated that Palmeiras is focused on the 2025 Club World Cup and is not considering offers for Reis at this time.
He concluded, “If you have a kid at 18 years old [playing at] this level… he has played as a starter in the Libertadores and in the World Cups. He is a young man with the level of Real Madrid and other teams of the world. These young guys want to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona.”
