Agent Responds To Reports Claiming Attacker Is Set For €20m Arsenal Move

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us the latest on Juan Quintero.

The agent of Porto attacker Juan Quintero has moved quickly to dismisses suggestions his client has agreed a €20m move to Arsenal by insisting no talks have taken place, according to Sky Sports News.

News emerged from Portugal on Thursday night claiming that Quintero was set to fly to London this weekend to complete a move to the Emirates on Monday after the Gunners had supposedly agreed a €20m deal with Porto.

However, it appears those reports were wide of the mark as the Colombian international’s agent, Ricardo Calleri, has hit back at the speculation insisting that although there is interest from England in his client, no talks have taken place and any club would need to meet the playmakers buy-out clause in order to persuade the Portuguese giants to cash in.

“Porto have never talked about negotiating the sale of Juan Quintero.

“Of course, there are clubs interested. There is a lot of interest from clubs from Spain and England in the player.

“But in order for him to leave, a club has to pay his buy-out clause.” Calleri is quoted as saying by Sky Sports

Quintero’s buy-out clause is believed to be in the region of €40m and it’s difficult to see Arsene Wenger paying that kind of money for a 21-year-old talent who’s yet to really prove himself consistently at the very highest level, so if the agent is correct and that’s the price we’d need to pay, I can’t see a deal happening.

That would be a shame as he’s an excellent player who looks to have a bright future ahead of him. He’s predominantly a central playmaker but can also play out wide, so it will be interesting to see how he fits in if a move to the Emirates does go through this summer.

Most fans assume Quintero’s arrival is likely to see either Lukas Podolski or Santi Cazorla leave, while others feel there is still room for him in the squad as a back-up for Mesut Ozil in the No.10 position. I personally don’t see Wenger splashing big-money on him without letting someone else go, as we are well stocked in attacking midfielders already, but I just hope it’s not Cazorla who is sacrificed.

READ MORE–> Arsenal transfer news

However, for now it looks like all the reports of a ‘done deal’ last night were just speculation and Quitero will remain at the Estadio do Dragao unless we meet his buy-out clause.