Premier League side Arsenal FC had been heavily linked with a move to sign Sporting’s young winger Joelson Fernandes this summer, as per reports.
Daily Star had quoted the Mirror saying: “Arsenal will offer a player in part-exchange for Sporting Lisbon wonderkid Joelson Fernandes to bring down his £40m asking price.
“Fernandes, who has been compared to a young Cristiano Ronaldo, is a hot property in Portugal, where he is tipped for the top.
“But the Gunners will not pay the release clause in his contract and are hoping to strike a bargain for the 17-year-old.
“Fernandes has been offered a new contract by Sporting but his representative Kia Joorabchian wants to engineer a move and has close links with Arsenal.”
Arsenal to miss out on Joelson Fernandes:
Yes, Joorabchian has a very good relationship with Arsenal but the agent has made it pretty clear that Fernandes is not going to leave Sporting during the ongoing summer transfer window.
“He’s a young phenomenal talent and I have never spoken about him to Arsenal. We have never mentioned him,” the agent said, as reported.
“He’s at Sporting, just broken into the first team and he will take time to get there.”
Joelson Fernandes is one of the most promising youngsters right now in Portugal but Arsenal look all set to hold onto Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer meaning even if they so manage to sign the 17-year-old, all he would have done is warm the benches.
So it will be wise for the Gunners to keep an eye on his during the upcoming season and maybe make a move for him during the next summer transfer window.
