• Premier League

Arsenal join running for Santos' Ganso

Harry Harris
July 21, 2012
Santos midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso has won eight caps for Brazil © PA Photos
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Arsenal are one of a group of top Premier League clubs closely watching Santos attacking midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso, according to ESPN sources.

Ganso, 22, is widely tipped to leave Santos this summer, with he and fellow Brazilian starlet Neymar long earmarked for big money moves to Europe.

Compatriot Oscar is on the brink of signing for Chelsea from Internacional and Ganso now looks likely to follow him into English football, with the Blues, Manchester United and Tottenham all previously linked with his services.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has now also turned his attention to Santos' talented midfielder, who has been capped eight times by Brazil, after missing out on capturing Oscar.

"Arsenal are interested, yes, but there are others," a source told ESPN. "He has a €50 million buyout clause in his contract but Santos will take less, much less - not a fee that will be prohibitive to a deal in England.

"The reason is that he doesn't have long left on his contract, two years at the most, and he is not signing a new one, so it's time to sell him."

Ganso's agent Delcir Sonda has already suggested that he has played his last game for Santos after talks broke down over a new deal.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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