The Gunners will talk to the Brazilian, who is
surplus to requirements under Pep Guardiola at
the Allianz Arena, in the coming days after
having an offer accepted over the weekend.
Arsenal have had a €20 million bid accepted by
Bayern Munich for midfielder Luiz Gustavo, Goal can reveal. The Brazil international is expected to become
the Gunners' club record signing and Arsene
Wenger's first senior capture of the summer. Arsenal will step up negotiations with Gustavo's
representatives in the coming days as they
attempt to thrash out personal terms. The 26-year-old is on international duty this
week and Arsenal would need to be given the
permission of the Brazil national team to hold
direct talks with the player if they are to force
through a quick deal. Wenger made his move for Gustavo at the end
of last week after Bayern chief executive Karl-
Heinz Rummenigge had admitted that they
were willing to listen to offers for him. Gustavo fell behind Bastian Schweinsteiger and
Javi Martinez in the German club's central
midfield pecking order last season and told
Bayern he wanted to quit in search of regular
football. Reports in Germany have suggested that new
Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has no plans to
utilise Gustavo this season. The Brazilian had been close to joining
Wolfsburg but he is believed to be keen to
move to a Champions League outfit as he
targets a regular starting position ahead of the
World Cup in his homeland next year. Goal revealed in February that Arsenal had
identified Gustavo as a key midfield target in
the summer. Arsenal made an enquiry for Gustavo in the
January window but stopped short of making a
bid after learning that Bayern were unwilling to
sell him in mid-season. The north Londoners have been keen to sign a
battle-hardened midfield anchorman since
selling Alex Song to Barcelona 12 months ago. Arsenal pulled out of a move for West Ham
powerhouse Mohamed Diame in January after
failing to be convinced he was better than the
options they already had in central midfield,
most notably Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta,
Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby. However, Gustavo's combination of authority
and versatility has impressed Wenger and his
scouts. The Brazilian is capable of slotting in at
centre-back and left-back as well as his
favoured deep midfield role. The Brazilian, whose Bayern contract runs until
2015, was an intermittent starter for the
European champions last season, although he
was out for a month at the end of the season.
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