Arsenal have now joined Tottenham Hotspur and several rival Premier League sides in scouting Sao Paulo star Pablo Maia with Edu taking a keen interest in Brazilian talents.
That is according to 90min, which reports that Arsenal have scouted a wealth of youngsters in South America. Sporting director Edu has instructed the Gunners’ talent spots in the area to discover future stars. Fluminense anchor Andre Trindade is another talent on their radar.
Maia has piqued Arsenal’s interest with his efforts at the base of Sao Paulo’s midfield so far this year. The 21-year-old has featured in 48 games for the Estadio do Morumbi squad over the South American football season. Maia has also influenced five goals in all competitions.
Arsenal now join Tottenham in scouting Sao Paulo talent Maia
But Arsenal are only the latest Premier League outfit to show an interest in the Brasopolis-born anchor. Tottenham have also sent scouts to South America to run the rule over him in recent times. Newcastle United, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have also watched him.
90min also credits Fulham with an appreciation for what Maia could bring to England with the first transfer of his career. The 5 ft 10 talent has only ever represented Sao Paulo after graduating from their academy. He came through for his first-team debut in February 2022.
Maia must improve his discipline to move to the Premier League
Maia made his senior bow in the Copa do Brasil against Campinense Clube one month after he turned 20. He has since featured 109 times at the first-team level for Sao Paulo across all competitions. The deep-lying midfielder further has five goals and three assists to his name.
Managers have afforded Maia minutes in a number of roles, too, with appearances in more advanced and wide midfield roles. He has even featured sparingly as a centre-back, to offer his Premier League suitors another possibly attractive attribute ahead of any transfer tussle.
But Arsenal et al with an interest in Maia’s transfer will want the Sao Paulo star to improve his discipline. He has received 24 yellow cards and two reds since first emerging as a first-team player. Both of his red cards and 14 of his yellows have even come from 48 outings in 2023.
Maia further drew both sending-offs from double yellow card incidents against Palmeiras in a Serie A fixture and against Ferroviaria in a Campeonato Paulista match. While his collection of yellow cards has resulted in suspensions for two fixtures to show where he must improve.
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