Transfer: Marseille ready to sign Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira on loan
Marseille have reportedly shown interest in signing Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira on loan in January.
The Portuguese midfielder has started just two Premier League games this season – in a win away at Everton and for September’s North London derby.
Things have not gone to plan when Vieira has started in other competitions though, as his only other two starts came in Champions League and EFL Cup defeats to Lens and West Ham United, respectively.
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Vieira will also now be unavailable for Arsenal’s next three domestic matches against Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Luton Town after being sent off for a ugly challenge on Burnley’s Josh Brownhill in the Gunners’ last outing.
The 23-year-old joined from Porto last summer, but has found it tough to nail down a regular spot in midfield ahead of the likes of Martin Odegaard and new signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
French outlet Le10Sport claims that Marseille are targeting Vieira given his lack of game time at the Emirates, as they look to strengthen in January.
Marseille president Pablo Longoria will hope his past dealings with Arsenal will help get a deal over the line.
William Saliba and Nuno Tavares have both moved to the Velodrome on loan from the Gunners under his stewardship, and Longoria also negotiated the deal that brought Matteo Guendouzi to the club permanently last summer.
Arsenal will hope a possible short-term loan for Vieira could have a similar effect to Saliba’s, who enjoyed a fine season at the club in the 2021-22 season.
Incomings are expected as OM have not made a positive start to the season, as chaotic scenes within the club’s hierarchy saw Marcelino resign just weeks into the job.
The Spaniard left with the club in mid-table, and his replacement Gennaro Gattuso has been unable to turn the tide, as they remain 10th.
Despite finishing third in Ligue 1 last season, Marseille missed the chance to compete in the Champions League group stage by losing a qualifying tie with Panathinaikos in August, dropping into the Europa League.
OM return to action against Strasbourg this weekend, before hosting crisis-club Ajax in the Europa League next midweek.