Arsenal ‘hit a snag in Arthur Melo talks’ with Edu refusing to budge on offer to Juventus

Mikel Arteta previews Arsenal's clash with Liverpool

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Arsenal have hit a roadblock in their attempts to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on loan in the January transfer window. Edu met Arthur’s agent for talks on Wednesday, but the Serie A club’s demands over the loan duration and a buy option clause have put the deal in danger.

According to Sky Italy, Arsenal have offered a straight loan for the 25-year-old until the end of the season.

However, Juventus are only interested in such a deal if it includes an option to buy him in July.

The Old Lady would also allow Arthur to join Arsenal on an 18-month loan with an option to buy in the summer of 2023.

On top of the loan duration, Juventus are also reluctant to offload him before capturing a replacement.

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GOAL report Gunners technical director Edu held face-to-face talks with the Brazil international’s agent, Federico Pastorello, on Wednesday.

Pastorello travelled to the club’s London Colney training ground and most likely explained the terms Juventus had laid on the table.

But so far, Edu and Mikel Arteta haven’t budged as they determine whether they want Artur in the squad for longer than five months.

Fabrizio Romano claims Arthur wants to join Arsenal this month, but nothing has been agreed.

Arteta is currently facing midfield issues in his squad after loaning Ainsley Maitland-Niles to AS Roma earlier in the window.

Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny’s Africa Cup of Nations involvement has left the Spaniard short of options, but the former is on his way back after Ghana’s shock group-stage exit.

Granit Xhaka’s straight red card against Liverpool last week also hasn’t helped Arsenal in the slightest.

Albert Sambi Lokonga is the only first-team defensive midfielder currently available, and Arsenal’s request to postpone last Sunday’s north London derby was accepted by the Premier League.

On Wednesday, Arteta confirmed that Arsenal are ‘working extremely hard’ to secure signings before the January 31 deadline.

However, he offered no further insight as negotiations to lure Arthur to the Emirates Stadium rumble on.

He told reporters: “The team are working extremely hard to get the players that we want, and we have no news to give you.

“We have a plan to try to bring players in and try to get the players we want with the right qualities and improve the squad in the best possible way every single window.”

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