Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli closes on £55m move to Saudi Arabia… as Al-Hilal plot double swoop from Premier League
Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli is closing on a £55million move to Al-Hilal.
The Saudi club are working to sign the Brazilian alongside Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Martinelli has still to finalise personal terms but talks are understood to be progressing.
Turkish club Galatasaray made a £38.5million bid for Martinelli earlier this month but the 25-year-old would not consider a move to Istanbul.
Gabriel Martinelli did not want to move to Turkey but talks over personal terms with Al-Hilal are progressing
Martinelli, who joined from Brazilian side Ituano for £6m in 2019, has just 12 months remaining on his Arsenal contract. Ituano are due a sell-on percentage of the profit.
He made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the Premier League title but he was left out of the squad for their league opener against Coventry on Friday.
Arsenal are maintaining contacts with Atletico Madrid for Julian Alvarez though the Argentine remains intent on joining Barcelona.
With Atletico reluctant to sell to Barca, Arsenal are waiting for the player’s camp to indicate he would want to join them.