Arsenal could try and sign another relatively unknown star from Brazil in January after reportedly launching scouting missions to assess Andre Trindade. Liverpool are also believed to be wise to the midfielder’s potential, with Premier League heavyweights keen to unearth a hidden gem in the same way the Gunners did with Gabriel Martinelli.
Martinelli was a teenager in the Brazilian fourth division when Arsenal snapped him up for just £6million back in 2019. The flying forward was an instant hit, notching double figures across all competitions in his debut season.
Now into his fifth campaign, the 22-year-old is a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s attempt to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title. According to 90min, Gunners transfer chief Edu has cast his eye over numerous emerging talents in his native Brazil ahead of the January window in the hope of replicating his Martinelli masterstroke.
Andre, also 22, is understood to be top of the pile, with the youngster emerging as one of the standout players in Brazil’s Serie A.
Impressing with his accomplished performances in central midfield, Andre has notched 150 senior matches for Fluminense and is already capped for the Brazilian national team. Martinelli, who was born less than a month before the Arsenal transfer target, could give him a warm welcome if they pull the trigger in January.
Arteta and co will likely have to fend off rival interest from Liverpool to do so. The Reds earmarked Andre during the summer, but were ultimately unable to complete a move due to his Copa Libertadores commitments with Fluminense.
Missing out would come as a crushing blow for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, whose admiration for Martinelli – an exciting winger who slipped through the net – was made clear years ago. “I watch a lot of football,” said the German back in 2019.
“All [teams] have scouting departments all over the world and stuff like this. But I think Edu gets all the credit for that signing. He came from wherever and is really unbelievable. So young, looks so mature already, he’s a proper threat, looks like a really decent player.
“I didn’t want to put any weight on his back with this thing, but it’s just that I really like good football players and obviously he’s a very good one.”
Alongside Andre, Edu is believed to be keeping tabs on Corinthians youngster Gabriel Moscardo and Sao Paolo’s Pablo Maia, with various Premier League sides also tracking the up-and-coming duo.
