In a recent report, Sky Sports football expert Tim Vickery stated that Arsenal are showing interest in Santos forward Marcos Leonardo. It has been claimed that the Gunners are eyeing a move to land the Brazilian youngster.
Leonardo’s Impressive Rise In Brazilian Football
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise at the Brazilian club and has now firmly established himself as an important member of their senior team. Leonardo has already made 168 senior appearances for Santos thus far, finding the back of the net 54 times and securing 11 assists in all competitions.
The talented centre-forward was a reliable performer last season as he averaged 2.6 shots, 1.0 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per 90 minutes in Brasileirao. He has distributed possession relatively well after completing 75.3% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Brazilian football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Santos will run out at the end of 2026. Thus, it won’t be easy for the Gunners to strike a deal for him on the cheap in this ongoing winter transfer window.
Should Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta Move In For Leonardo?
Leonardo can find some space for himself to get a few strikes in at goal. He is a decent finisher in the final third and can set up some inviting chances for others around him up top.
The Brazilian starlet is a decent dribbler with the ball as well. However, Leonardo is still quite inexperienced at the highest level and would need time to settle into life in English football if the Gunners manage to get him on board soon. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting a player of his ceiling and skillset.
At 20, Leonardo has the potential to become a world-class player in his position someday as long as he continues to improve with each year. Hence, it makes sense for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta to move in for him this January or at the end of this campaign.
Leonardo is already good enough to offer some competition for Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah at the Emirates Stadium. Plus, Arteta would be the perfect man to oversee his development and unlock the best out of him at the North London club in the long run.
