Arsenal have reportedly join Manchester United in the race for signing Porto midfielder Otavio and the Gunners are believed to have be weighing up lucrative move for the Porto star.
Daily Star citing report emanating from Transfer Market Web claimed the north London side have been “carefully scouting” the highly rated midfielder.
The report from the duo media outlet also claims United are interested in the midfielder but bound to face keen completion from Arsenal.
Otavio’s recent superb performances with the Portuguese has attracted the duo Premier League for his signature.
Moreover, there are reports that European giants Juventus and Borussia Dortmund are also showing interest in the 21-year-old, who is unlikely to be sold on the cheap.
Transfer Market Web claim he has a mammoth £53.5m release clause in his current deal, which still has five years left to run. He arrived at Porto in 2014 from Brazilian side Internacional for a deal believed to be £2m.
Otavio scored six goals and made nine assists in his 25 top-flight appearances for the Portuguese club last season.
The Brazil youth international has carried with his superb performance by playing a key role at the Estadio do Dragao this season, he’s bagged two goals and created six assists in his 16 outings across all competitions.
The Emirates side manager Arsene Wenger spent heavily in the summer transfer window to bring Granit Xhaka, Shkdoran Mustafi, Lucas Perez and Rob Holding as well as Takuma Asano currently on loan with German side VfB Stuttgart
And John Hartson wants to see his former club spend big again in January, saying: “There’s money there.
“If he’s in and around the top three come January and they just need that other player that’ll cost them £30m to £40m, I think they’ve got the capacity to do that.
“Wenger knows that he has to get closer to the title.
“Arsenal will challenge this season and they’re going the right way about it.
“I don’t think he feels he’ll be there forever and he wants to go out on a high.
“That’s why I think he went big in the summer and spent around £90m.”