Arsenal 'preparing bid for Gremio starlet Bitello'

The 23-year-old has risen through the Gremio youth ranks since joining the club in the summer of 2019 and has now made 84 appearances for the Brasileiro outfit's first team.

Bitello has contributed 16 goals and seven assists in that time, including seven strikes in the 2022 Serie B campaign to help Gremio achieve promotion to Serie A.

So far this season, Bitello has found the back of the net three times in 13 Brasileiro outings, while also starting eight Copa do Brasil games en route to the semi-finals.

A highly versatile player, Bitello has primarily played on the right flank this term but has also been deployed as a central midfielder, number six and number 10 in the past few months.

The midfielder's contract with Gremio does not expire until December 2025, but according to Correio do Povo, Arsenal have taken a liking to Bitello and are trying to facilitate a move.

The report claims that the North London club have sent a team of representatives to Porto Alegre to make their offer, which should arrive in the coming days.

Arsenal chiefs were believed to have been in attendance at Gremio's recent Copa do Brasil quarter-final second leg with Bahia on Wednesday, where Bitello played the full 90 but missed his spot kick in the penalty shootout.

Nevertheless, Gremio went on to prevail 4-3 from 12 yards following a 2-2 aggregate draw, and the Brazilian side are demanding €10m (£8.6m) to let Bitello leave.

Arsenal are not expected to encounter any problems agreeing a fee with Gremio, as the Gunners continue to build contacts in South America through sporting director Edu, a former Brazil international.

Gabriel Martinelli has become an integral player for Arsenal since joining from Ituano in 2019, while Marquinhos arrived from Sao Paulo in the summer of 2022 but has so far failed to make the same impact.

Arsenal confirmed their second signing of the current window earlier on Friday, bringing in versatile Dutch defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax on a five-year contract.

The 22-year-old follows ex-Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz to the Emirates, and Declan Rice's £105m arrival is expected to be confirmed before the Gunners fly out to the USA on Sunday.

Arsenal have opened their pre-season campaign with a pair of 1-1 draws against Watford and Nuremberg, and they will take on the MLS All-Stars, Manchester United and Barcelona in North America.

Mikel Arteta's men will then defend their Emirates Cup title against Monaco on August 2, four days before they battle Manchester City in the Community Shield.