According to A Bola, as cited by Metro, Arsenal may trigger Joelson Fernandes’ €45 million release clause. The Sporting Lisbon whizkid has attracted interest from clubs across Europe, including Juventus and Arsenal. The Gunners, in particular, are believed to be keen on matching the youngster’s €45 million release clause this summer before his valuation increases any further.
Who Is Joelson Fernandes?
Fernandes is the latest player to come out of the prestigious Sporting academy that has produced stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Quaresma and Nani. Although the youngster is yet to establish himself as a full-fledged member of the first-team, he has made three appearances and is tipped to gain a more prominent role in the upcoming season.
A left-winger by trade, Fernandes has impressed the onlookers with his pace and trickery. Like any other traditional dynamic attacker, the 17-year-old loves to take on defenders and run directly at opposition defences. His exquisite control over the ball, combined with his quick feet enables him to wreak havoc in the final third.
Fernandes has shown this time and time again in the Portuguese youth leagues, notably being involved in seven goals in 28 matches in the Liga Revelacao this season.
Another key asset in his game, however, is the ability to whip in dangerous crosses from the byline. It makes him a constant threat out wide, while Fernandes’ willingness to drift into a central role only makes him more unpredictable.
Should Arsenal Take A Gamble On Fernandes?
Fernandes almost has no experience at the highest level of football, meaning any move for the Portuguese youngster will no be short of a gamble from Arsenal’s part.
Although the 17-year-old has explosive nature that Arsenal have lacked since the departure of Alexis Sanchez, the recent improvements of Nicolas Pepe, combined with a flurry of exciting talents like Reiss Nelson, does, to an extent, alleviate the need for another young attacker.
More importantly, Arsenal simply cannot afford to splash €45 million at a time when they are in the middle of a financial crisis. They also need massive reforms in the defensive unit, especially with the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis facing an uncertain future at the club.
Therefore, it would perhaps be wiser for the Gunners to move on from Fernandes and shift their interest towards potential defenders who can add more quality to the Arsenal backline or even a new midfielder.
