Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is always ready to confound onlookers with his targets.
We have talked time and again about the need for a midfield general but the Frenchman seems relaxed about the paucity of battlers in his engine room right now, as he reportedly looks at other additions.
Last week, initial reports suggested that Arsenal could in fact be close to doing a deal for the young Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero of Porto.
The Daily Mail said:
Arsenal have opened talks with Porto over a deal for Colombia midfielder Juan Quintero.
..reports out of South America on Thursday night said a fee has been agreed for £15.8m and that Quintero was on a flight to London Heathrow.
But those rumours were soon complicated by The Express:
Confusion reigns at Arsenal as agent DASHES £16m move for Man Utd target Juan Quintero
ARSENAL have been told that Juan Quintero will only be allowed to leave Porto if his £32m release clause is activated.
So the gun was, not unusually, jumped by the press who were eager to bring Arsenal fans news of more money spent.
We have to say that we have been crying out for Arsenal to buy a holding midfielder for years. And when yet more number tens and attacking midfielders are linked we usually screw up our faces in frustration.
But, on this occasion, we might be prepared to relent. Because, whether Arsenal are interested or not, this lad looks absolutely mustard.
Now, we should also say that a youtube highlights package could make my nan look like a top playmaker – we once saw a video of Manchester United’s Anderson and simply couldn’t believe it was the same player – but the diminutive Quintero does look like the must nuts. A really direct player who loves to have a shot from distance, he does seem like a real gem in the making.
So let’s enjoy that clip and try to imagine yet another attacking midfielder somehow being squeezed into a team full of them.
Arsenal fans: is there any more room for Quintero?
