Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Famalicao v FC Porto - Famalicao Municipal Stadium, Famalicao, Portugal - December 7, 2024 FC Porto's Fabio Vieira celebrates after Samu Aghehowa scored their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Arsenal are in discussions with Bundesliga club VFB Stuttgart over the sale of midfielder Fabio Vieira. Vieira spent the last two seasons on loan at former club Porto, and impressed in Liga Portugal and in the Europa League last season.
The player is surplus to requirements at Arsenal and looks set to depart on permanent basis. The 25-year-old has two years left on his contract and Arsenal are expected to demand a figure close to the original €40m they paid for his services in 2022.
Transfer expert David Ornstein has reported that no agreement has been reached between the clubs yet, but negotiations are well underway. Vieira has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League.
He made 22 appearances in his debut season in 2022/23, showing glimpses of technical ability though struggling with the pace and physicality. Only three of those appearances were from the start as he played a bit part role in the squad.
The 2023/24 campaign followed a similar pattern, with Vieira making just two starts in the Premier League. He rejoined his former club Porto on loan in August 2024, where he was a mainstay in the side that finished third in Liga Portugal.
Arsenal prepared to sell Vieira
Vieira is among a list of players that could depart Arsenal this summer as the Gunners prepare for a final push in the transfer window. He has admirers in the Premier League as well as across Europe, with West Ham also interested in the play maker.
Viera’s place in the pecking order has fallen following the arrivals of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. Although the latter eventually moved higher up the pitch, Vieira has still seen his time limited under Mikel Arteta.
He is now one of the players Arsenal are believed to be willing to listen to offers for this summer. Arsenal are understood to be interested in Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, but would likely need to sell first to raise money for an offer.
Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Albert Sambi Lokanga, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus have all been linked with moves away from the Emirates this summer.
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