Arsenal have been given fresh hope in their pursuit of Douglas Costa after Shakhtar Donetsk confirmed they would be willing to allow the player to leave the club – for the right price. This paves the way for manager Arsene Wenger to launch a bid for the highly rated attacking midfielder.
The Metro quotes the Shakhtar Donetsk manager as saying:
‘I am sure that things will come to the fore in the next few weeks.
‘For me, all the players are transferable for the right price. Every year, some players go and some players arrive.
‘It’s normal that players will want to leave at some point.’
Costa is reportedly unsettled with the current political situation in Ukraine and is seeking a move out of the country. Arsenal could offer him an exit, but it appears that the North London side would prefer a loan move rather than a permanent deal, primarily because the Brazilian carries a huge price tag.
Although Arsene Wenger already has a host of attacking talent at his disposal, Costa could still adding something to the squad. His pace and technical ability would make him an ideal signing for the style of play associated with Arsenal and he could provide further competition to other attackers.
More importantly though, with Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry still sidelined through injury and the fact that the club Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has only just returned from a long lay-off, the manager may just be being careful to ensure that he has suitable options up front in case of further absences.
The 23-year-old has played for Shakhtar Donetsk since a €6 million from Gremio in 2010. In that time he has played an important role in a squad that has won numerous honours, including five Ukrainian Premier League titles and various domestic cups. He has amassed 170 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 33 goals.
Let’s see him in action. Arsenal fans: Luxury or necessity?
