Premier League table-toppers Arsenal have, on Thursday, been labelled as the leading candidates to land Athletico Paranaense starlet Vitor Roque.
For those not aware, attacker Roque is widely considered to be one of the finest up-and-coming talents in his home country of Brazil.
This comes with the frontman, since being snapped up by the aforementioned Athletico last summer, having gone on to enjoy a fruitful first year at the Arena da Baixada.
Despite having only turned 18 last month, Roque has already racked up 40 senior appearances, notching 12 goals and three assists along the way.
Such impressive form has translated to the international stage, too, with the former Cruzeiro talent having already been afforded his full Brazil bow, after finding the net eight times in eleven outings at U20 level.
In turn, reports across the week to date, confirming mounting interest in Roque’s services from clubs across Europe, has come as little surprise.
La Liga heavyweights Barcelona, for one, are understood to be admirers, with Roque himself viewed as keen on the prospect of a move to the Camp Nou, too.
As alluded to above, though, if the latest word stemming from the media on Thursday is anything to go by, then the Blaugrana are currently trailing in the race for the goalsoring prodigy’s services.
This comes amid claims on the part of Gabriel Sans of Mundo Deportivo, amongst others, that Premier League leaders Arsenal have positioned themselves at the front of the queue for Roque.
The Gunners, it seems, have identified the Athletico standout as a potential star in the making, with the connections possessed by sporting director Edu in his home country of Brazil placing Mikel Arteta’s side in good stead to land Roque ahead of next season.
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