Arsenal are reportedly keeping an eye on the highly-rated Pablo Maia from Sao Paulo as a potential transfer target, with Mikel Arteta looking to bolster his side's midfield in January.
The 21-year-old midfielder has emerged as one of the top talents in the Brazilian top flight and has an estimated transfer value in the region of £10m.
The Gunners have been linked with possible moves for Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz and Fulham's Joao Palhinha in recent weeks.
According to Football Transfers, if Arsenal are unable to land Luiz or Palhinha in the upcoming transfer window, they may turn to Maia as an alternative option.
The report adds that The Gunners have been monitoring the 21-year-old for several weeks, with initial reports of their interest surfacing in November.
The initiative to monitor Maia was initiated by Arsenal's sporting director Edu, who previously worked with the Brazil national team back in 2016.
Arsenal have been proactive in tapping into the South American market in recent seasons, securing talents like Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano in 2019 and Marquinhos from Sao Paulo in 2022.
Maia has already made over 100 appearances for Sao Paulo and scored four goals in his 32 league appearances for the club this year.
Devesh Jaganath
