Arsenal Ready to Cut Ties with €40 Million Flop as Exit Negotiations Heat Up
Arsenal are said to be in negotiations for a permanent transfer of Portuguese playmaker Fábio Vieira to VfB Stuttgart, as Andrea Berta seeks a significant sale during his inaugural summer transfer period.
Vieira joined north London from FC Porto in 2022 but failed to establish himself with the Gunners. The 25-year-old found it difficult to displace Martin Ødegaard from the creative midfield position, featuring in 22 matches during his debut season. In the subsequent campaign, he appeared in only 11 Premier League fixtures, recording one goal and two assists across both seasons before heading back to Porto on a season-long loan for 2024–25.
Discussions continue between Arsenal and Stuttgart, though no deal has been finalized yet, according to The Athletic. The Gunners are reportedly looking for a fee comparable to the original €35 million (£30.4 million, $40.4 million) they invested in the player during 2022. The transfer also featured an extra €5 million in performance-related bonuses.
The Gunners have been connected with Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze this summer, although it's understood the north London outfit would need to authorize player departures before completing another summer acquisition.
Eze might offer a more suitable alternative to Ødegaard in the attacking midfield position, particularly against defensive teams. Additionally, there's the possibility of deploying Eze on the left flank given the inconsistent performances from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard last season. Both wide players have also been rumored to be considering exits from the club this summer, though Mikel Arteta may prefer maintaining depth across various positions.
Should Arsenal manage to recover, or even generate profit from, Vieira's sale, they could be more motivated to pursue Eze in the transfer window's closing stages.
Arsenal have already secured players including Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga during this summer window.