Report: Arsenal ready to match asking price for Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva as Real Madrid switch targets

Arsenal are ready to match the asking price for Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva, according to reports. Spanish newspaper MARCA, as cited by website Sport Witness, claims that the Gunners will offer around €15 million to secure an agreement in the January transfer. Arsenal’s reported move has coincided with a story being run by Spanish radio […]
by
sambafoot_admin
2014-12-10 19:39:00

Arsenal are ready to match the asking price for Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva, according to reports.

Spanish newspaper MARCA, as cited by website Sport Witness, claims that the Gunners will offer around €15 million to secure an agreement in the January transfer.

Arsenal’s reported move has coincided with a story being run by Spanish radio network Cadena COPE, which suggests Real Madrid are ready to bid for Germany international Christoph Kramer, who is currently on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach from Bayer Leverkusen.

Real had previously been considered favourites to sign Lucas Silva and Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti even confirmed that the 21 year-old was a target.

Reports suggest however, that Real are not willing to pay more than €12 million for Lucas Silva, while Cadena COPE claims legendary Italian tactician Arrigo Sacchi has convinced Ancelotti that Kramer, at a price of €10 million to €15 million, is a better proposition to come in as cover for the injured Luka Modrić.

Whether Real Madrid officials are hoping Lucas Silva will try to push through a deal at their preferred terms is unclear, though convincing Cruzeiro President Gilvan Tavares to lower his demands, with Arsenal reportedly ready to match them, could be challenging.

The former lawyer will be loathed to lose a player who has been a key part of a side that has won back to back [2013 and 2014] Brasileirão titles. 

Lucas Silva has made 50 appearances in the league over those two campaigns and was voted in the Championship Squad for 2014.

Previous