Liverpool green light Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira transfer despite prior agreement

Arsenal are edging towards completing the signing of FC Porto star Fabio Vieira but their deal could have potentially collapsed had Liverpool made a different decision following their own agreement

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Liverpool could have potentially ruined Arsenal ’s hopes of signing FC Porto star Fabio Vieira having previously reached an agreement over the midfielder.

The Gunners are reportedly close to making the Portuguese playmaker their second signing of the summer transfer window having already announced the arrival of Sao Paulo wonderkid Marquinhos. It is suggested that the Gunners have agreed a deal worth £30m, with Vieira set to fly into London to go through the formalities of the switch and of course undergo a medical with his new employers.

Whilst the Portuguese is inching towards putting pen to paper on a switch to the Emirates Stadium, he could have instead been turning out for Premier League rivals Liverpool instead.

As reported by the Sunday Mirror earlier this month, the Reds were granted first refusal by the Portuguese giants during their negotiations for the signing of Colombian winger Luis Diaz. Liverpool welcomed the forward to Anfield in January, with Vieira potentially set to follow him to Merseyside.

Diaz was an instant success after penning his Liverpool contract, enjoying a bright start to life at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp ’s men went close to completing what would have been an unprecedented quadruple – only to be edged out in the fight for the Premier League and Champions League titles.

However, it appears that the Reds have passed up the option of signing Diaz’s former teammate Vieira, with Arsenal closing in on his signature. The signing will certainly be an exciting one for the Gunners after Vieira played a key role in Porto’s title success.

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The versatile midfielder made 39 appearances in all competitions for the Dragons – just 21 of those being starts – but did manage to rack-up a hugely impressive record, scoring seven goals and notching 16 assists in all competitions.

He will now add much-needed creativity into the heart of the Arsenal midfield – with the position having been identified as a priority heading into the summer transfer window. Other candidates were noted to be Leicester City star Youri Tielemans and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ man Ruben Neves.

And as well as Liverpool deciding not to enter the battle for Vieira’s signature, they have made a major decision on their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham. Jurgen Klopp has a long-standing interest in the England star with the Reds needing to upgrade their options in the centre of midfield.

But due to the German side’s aversion to selling Bellingham after the exit of Erling Haaland, Liverpool are now willing to wait to make a move for the midfielder’s services with a swoop expected to be more viable in 12 months’ time.