By Joe Ellis

14th May, 2022 | 8:00am

Arsenal in talks with Sao Paulo over 19-year-old winger Marquinhos - report

Arsenal and Brazilian side Sao Paulo are in negotiations over the transfer of teenage winger Marquinhos, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The 19-year-old only made his professional debut in his native country in July of 2021 but has gone on to make 33 appearances for Tricolor Paulista since then.

Despite playing so many games, he has only scored twice for the club but that hasn’t dwindled Mikel Arteta’s interest who is keen to bring him to The Emirates.

Romano reported, via his personal Twitter account, that negotiations are ongoing and that the Gunners would likely pay a fee of £2.5million for his signature.

He also stated the desperation on the Brazilian club’s side as they might lose him for nothing soon if they don’t sell him now which is why the transfer fee is lower than perhaps expected.

Martinelli 2.0

Arsenal have had success in the very recent past in signing players from Brazil and turning them into Premier League quality and they need to find that magic again with Marquinhos.

Gabriel Martinelli arrived in north London in 2019 directly from Ituano, a team not too far from Sau Paulo itself, and he is now starting week in, week out in the Premier League while causing opposition defenders nightmares with his pacey and direct running.

Now 20 years of age, Martinelli has to come of age if Marquinhos arrives at the club next season and help to guide him through his early years at the club.

He knows first-hand what it is like to move from Brazil to England so there is no better mentor for the teenager but he won’t be alone with defender Gabriel a fellow Brazilian and Nuno Tavares and Cedric Soares speaking Portuguese too, being natives of the country, to help him settle into the group.

In other Arsenal news, Thierry Henry has slammed his former side for their treatment of William Saliba.