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Arsenal considering January recall for Marquinhos?

Arsenal considering January recall for Marquinhos?
© Reuters
Arsenal could reportedly consider recalling 20-year-old attacker Marquinhos from his loan spell at Nantes in January amid his struggles for action in Ligue 1.

Arsenal will reportedly give consideration to cutting Marquinhos's loan spell at Nantes short in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old attacker made the temporary move to Ligue 1 after a mediocre spell with Norwich City in the second half of the 2022-23 season, amassing just one goal and one assist in 11 games at Carrow Road.

Marquinhos has failed to set the world alight with Nantes either, only playing 88 minutes of Ligue 1 football across five matches - four of which have come from the bench - and setting up one goal in that time.

The former Sao Paulo youngster provided his solitary assist in a 5-3 beating of Lorient on September 23, but he has not made another top-flight appearance since and was allowed to link up with Brazil's Under-23s for the Pan American Games, which run from October 20 to November 5.

Marquinhos's loan terms with Les Canaris do not include an option or obligation to buy, but given his lack of action, The Mirror claims that Arsenal might look at bringing him back to North London over the winter.

Marquinhos celebrates scoring for Arsenal against FC Zurich on September 8, 2022© Reuters

Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu were reportedly hoping that Marquinhos would be given regular opportunities to hone his craft in Ligue 1, but the move has not worked out as intended for either party.

Once Marquinhos returns from international duty, the Gunners - who will lose loan manager Ben Knapper to Norwich City in November - will continue to monitor his displays, and they could perform a U-turn on their decision if he embarks on an unforeseen revival.

However, should the Brazilian continue to struggle for starts, Arsenal will take steps to terminate his loan at the Stade de la Beaujoire before attempting to send him elsewhere for the second half of the campaign.

The Gunners apparently had a handful of clubs register their interest in the winger's services over the summer, with Italian trio Bologna, Empoli and Frosinone all in the running alongside Greek powerhouses Olympiacos.

As a result, Arsenal should not run into many obstacles trying to find a new destination for Marquinhos in January, when his Nantes loan could be terminated without a break clause if all sides agree to an early recall.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on October 28, 2023© Reuters

Arsenal fended off interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Marquinhos for £3m in the summer of 2022, and he made an immediate impression at Under-21 level with four goals and two assists in five Premier League 2 matches.

Owing to his eye-catching displays for the academy team, Arsenal fast-tracked the 20-year-old's promotion to the first team, and a dream debut saw him score and register an assist in a 2-1 Europa League win over FC Zurich.

Marquinhos played another five games for the senior side in 2022-23, including one Premier League appearance off the bench in a 3-0 win over Brentford and two further starts against Bodo/Glimt in Europe and Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup.

The 2003-born attacker is under contract at the Emirates Stadium for another four years, but Bukayo Saka, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are all ahead of him in the wingers' pecking order.

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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