Add as preferred source on Google
There were high hopes for Fabio Vieira when Arsenal signed him from Porto.
The playmaker was viewed as a really exciting prospect in his home country at the time, and Edu Gaspar felt he would be the perfect backup for Martin Odegaard.
Vieira showed glimpses of his quality in the famous red and white, but he just didn’t do enough to secure a spot for himself under Mikel Arteta.
The 25-year-old was sent out on loan to Hamburg last summer, and the German side are really happy with him, so much so that they are eyeing a permanent move.
Rate Fabio Vieira’s career at Arsenal!
Credit: Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC Hamburg official suggests they want to sign Fabio Vieira from Arsenal
Fabio Vieira had all the characteristics that you would want from an attacking midfielder when Arsenal first signed him.
The Portuguese number 10 is excellent on the ball, has very good vision, and possesses the ability to score a variety of goals.
That is why Arsenal agreed a £34 million deal to sign Vieira, but it has to be said that it was one of Edu’s less impressive investments.
Since joining Hamburg, Vieira has looked a lot more at home, and the Bundesliga club’s fans absolutely adore him as well.
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Now, Eric Huwer, HSV’s head of finance, organisation, human resources and legal affairs, has claimed that Arsenal haven’t given him the impression that they want Vieira.
So, as long as the player is happy at Hamburg, Huwer has confirmed that they will try to strike a deal for a permanent transfer this summer.
He told Hamburger Abendblatt: “The situation is relatively relaxed. Fabio feels very comfortable in Hamburg, and I don’t get the impression that Arsenal are basing their long-term plans on him.
“Fabio knows exactly what he has in Hamburg and at HSV. The fundamental question now is what the player wants. And if he wants to stay, then we’ll sit down with the Arsenal management and discuss possible solutions, similar to what we did with Sambi.
“Then we’ll see if a transfer is possible. We’re ready to experience special moments with Fabio in the long term. Whether that works out and at what price, we’ll see in the summer.”
Arsenal should sell Fabio Vieira for £__?
Credit: Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC Arsenal need to rectify the mistake they made when they sold Albert Sambi Lokonga
Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga barely played together when they were at Arsenal, but they have become an integral part of Hamburg now.
The playmaker only joined the German side on loan last summer, but Lokonga was sold – for just £260,000.
That is an embarrassing fee to get for a player of Lokonga’s quality, which is why Arsenal need to use the Vieira deal to rectify it.
The former Porto man has had a fine season at Hamburg, who have an option to buy him for €20 million (£17.5m).
However, the German club are hoping to bring that fee down to £7.5 million, which is insulting for a player like Vieira, who has played a big role in saving them from relegation.
Arsenal should demand a fee that’s a lot closer to the value of the buy option. If Hamburg can’t pay that, Andrea Berta should find some other club who can.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox