Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has gone all out to trump the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United to midfielder Lucas Silva by making a bigger bid, which has reportedly been accepted by Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
The Gunners are in need of a solid central midfielder, following injuries and a lack of awareness in that position which has cost them quite a few points this season, and Lucas Silva has been up there on the radar of the club over the last few weeks.
Lucas Silva looked a dead cert to join Real Madrid a few days ago, with Carlo Ancelotti admitting interest and reports from Spain suggesting a deal had already been agreed.
However, Arsenal are ready to beat Real Madrid to the signing of the talented Brazilian by making a bigger offer.
Arsenal have, according to Marca, offered around €15 million (£11.8 million) for Silva's services, which Cruzeiro have gleefully accepted, after Real Madrid only made a bid of €12 million (£9.4 million) for the midfielder.
Cruzeiro are open to a quick sale in the January transfer window and have no worries about selling to the highest bidder, even if it looked inevitable that the 21-year-old would be headed to the Bernabeu sooner rather than later.
Silva is coming off a terrific domestic season with Cruzeiro, leading them to the league title in Brazil, while also being named in the team of the year.
Arsenal have not had great success with Brazilians since Gilberto Silva and a little earlier than that Edu, but Silva does look like the real deal, hence the interest in the midfielder from top clubs, including Real Madrid.
Lucas Silva is of the recent Brazilian midfield mould, strong, adept at reading the game and comfortable on the ball, and he would be a good fit for Arsenal. However, according to the same report, Silva and his representatives have made clear that their desire is to play for Real Madrid, leaving Wenger to bring out all of his convincing powers.
The youngster has equipped himself well in the holding midfield role for Cruzeiro, and the player himself has admitted he has modelled his game on Manchester City maestro Yaya Toure.
While Toure is more forward-thinking, Silva is a better player deep, even if he is capable of bringing the ball out from midfield and making those runs.
Arsenal have been crying out for a defensive midfielder this season, and plenty before that as well, and with Silva set to cost only around £12 million, he would certainly look like a better bargain than some of the other defensive midfielders that Arsenal have been linked with, chief of them being William Carvalho and Morgan Schneiderlin.
But then, at 21, he is still very much a work in progress.
