CONFIRMED:Arsenal ‘reach agreement’ over transfer with Brazilian set for move to France

Arsenal have agreed a deal to loan Marquinhos to Ligue side Nantes for the whole of the 2023/24 season, according to reports in France.

Marquinhos made six appearances in all competitions during his first six months at the Emirates Stadium before Arsenal sent him on loan to Championship side Norwich City.

The 20-year-old played 11 matches for the Canaries, eight of them from the start, and managed one goal and one assist as Norwich finished a disappointing season in the Championship in 13th place.

And now Marquinhos is set for another spell away from Arsenal with L’Equipe claiming that Arsenal and Ligue 1 side Nantes have ‘reached an agreement in principle for the loan without an option to buy’.

Nantes transfer window is now ‘accelerating’ with a deal for the Brazil under-20 international ‘getting closer’ as Arsenal look to get him some valuable first-team experience.

Mikel Arteta rates him highly with the Gunners boss praising the Brazilian after he scored his first goal for Arsenal against FC Zurich last year.

“He’s a player that is very popular, with no English, just with his smile and attitude has won the respect and admiration of everybody here,” Arteta told reporters.

“It was a big step for him as he hasn’t played enough minutes with us but we were willing to give him the opportunity, I think he deserved it.

“He took it really well and again, it’s another player that needs to keep developing, in order to do that we have to give them minutes and opportunities.”

Arsenal have brought in Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz over the summer transfer window but former Gunners defender William Gallas is looking forward to seeing how Bukayo Saka develops again this season.

Gallas told Gambling Zone: “I’m expecting Saka to improve again, so that means more goals and assists than he delivered last season. He looks like he wants to improve in every game that he plays in, which is a really good sign.

“He has so much potential and such a high ceiling to improve – to me it’s obvious that he can go up a few levels until he reaches his maximum. When Arsenal are in difficult games, we expect Saka to be one of the players to make the difference.“We expect him to find the solutions, whether that is delivering an assist or scoring a goal. He is a player that I really like. He has strong shoulders. He looks like he ready to carry his team and is capable of being the difference-maker for Arsenal.”

“We expect him to find the solutions, whether that is delivering an assist or scoring a goal. He is a player that I really like. He has strong shoulders. He looks like he ready to carry his team and is capable of being the difference-maker for Arsenal.”