Arsenal 'closing in on Bitello signing'

Arsenal are reportedly close to completing a deal to sign Gremio midfielder Bitello.

The Gunners are believed to have sent a delegation to watch the 23-year-old in action during a recent Copa do Brasil quarter-final showdown with Bahia, where he played the full 90 minutes.

The versatile Bitello was a driving force in Gremio's return to the Brazilian Serie A last season, chipping in with seven goals and three assists in the second tier from a variety of midfield roles.

The 2000-born lynchpin operated as a number six, number eight and attacking midfielder last term and has also demonstrated his versatility this season, largely being deployed on the right flank.

Bitello has contributed another seven goals and four assists from 36 games so far in the 2023 season, although his contract with Gremio is due to expire at the end of 2025.

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According to Tuttomercatoweb, Arsenal are now on the cusp of bringing the Brazilian to the Emirates and will pay €8m (£6.9m) for Bitello's services.

The report adds that Arsenal were initially quoted a fee of €10m (£8.6m) to prise Bitello away from his homeland, but the Gunners have been able to drive the price down.

The midfielder had been tipped to advance his career in Serie A, but a spot in Mikel Arteta's ranks seemingly awaits him as he prepares to leave Gremio following a five-year spell.

Bitello initially joined Gremio as a youth player from FC Cascavel in 2018, and the 23-year-old has since represented the club on 86 occasions, scoring 16 goals and setting up seven more.

Bitello is apparently set to become Arsenal's fourth signing of the summer window, following Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz to North London for the 2023-24 campaign, but outgoings are now expected to be the focus for the Gunners.

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So far this summer, Arsenal have only offloaded Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari and Ainsley Maitland-Niles from their senior ranks, as well as former Under-21s captain Matt Smith.

Despite Arsenal's need for squad depth as they prepare for their return to the Champions League, Arteta recently conceded that the size of his squad was "unsustainable", and more players are expected to head for the exit door in the coming weeks.

None of Nicolas Pepe, Rob Holding, Cedric Soares, Auston Trusty or Alex Runarsson appear to have futures at the club, while Thomas Partey, Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares's futures are all clouded in uncertainty.

Partey is being strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but Arteta has affirmed that he wants the Ghana international to stay put at the Emirates for the 2023-24 campaign.

Arsenal ended their United States tour with a 5-3 beating of Barcelona on Wednesday and are next in action against French side Monaco in the Emirates Cup on August 2.