Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Are Handling Lucas Silva Sweepstakes Perfectly

Cruzeiro have reportedly rejected another offer for star midfielder Lucas Silva from Real Madrid, and while the young Brazilian will likely still end up in the Spanish capital, Arsenal could not have played this transfer saga any better.

According to AS' Alvaro de la Rosa, Los Blancos' second offer for Silva still didn't meet Cruzeiro's asking price of €15 million. Even after long negotiations, the two parties couldn't come to an agreement:

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Brazilian club, Cruzeiro have rejected Real Madrid’s second offer to sign Lucas Silva. According to various local media outlets, delegates from both clubs met up and after long negotiations the answer back to the European club was another negative. Cruzeiro are adamant that the player will not be sold for anything less than 15 million euro and despite the second offer on the table being an improvement on the initial offer of 12 million euro, the Brazilian champions are unwavering in their position.

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Arsenal have already agreed to the €15 million fee, with the player waiting to respond in the hope Real can find a way to convince Cruzeiro to sell to them, per De La Rosa.

Los Blancos have been involved in talks for the midfielder for months, and as he told AS (h/t Sky Sports), Madrid remains his preferred destination:

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I'm happy with the news and also very surprised; it shows that people are recognising my work not only here in Brazil but also abroad.

If it really does happen, because at the moment it's only speculation, it would be very important for my family.

It would be the realisation of dreams, comforts for everyone and maybe the time has arrived to return the favour to them.

(On playing with Cristiano Ronaldo) Since I was small I've been following his games, from Manchester United and now much more at Real Madrid. He's making history.

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Real want Silva. Silva wants Real. Sooner or later, Cruzeiro and the Champions League holders will likely find a suitable compromise, making the 21-year-old's dream come true.

If they don't, Silva is more than happy to stay in Brazil for now, per Sport Witness:

So, who is Silva? Compared to former Brazil international Kaka, the youngster plays the role of conductor for Cruzeiro, winner of the last two Brazilian titles.

Playmaking, passing and vision are his biggest assets, while he's also a strong and willing defender in front of the back four.

The comparison to Real Madrid star Toni Kroos is never far off.

Like Kroos, Silva works hard at the base of midfield, is an underrated defender and does most of his damage by isolating wingers and forwards with clever passes.

Silva is not an enforcer, and therefore perhaps not a perfect fit for the Gunners' current needs. However, according to the Daily Mirror's Jack Lang, he would certainly be an upgrade over the current pieces:

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Lucas Silva has enormous potential but is certainly not the enforcer Arsenal have been crying out for at the base of their midfield. The 21-year-old gets through his share of defensive work and would be an upgrade on, say, Mikel Arteta in physical terms, but he is no Nemanja Matic. Fans may wonder, then, whether he is really the player the Gunners require.

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While the 21-year-old may not fit Arsene Wenger's biggest needs like a glove, he remains a sensational talent. With a reported asking price of only €15 million, he would present the Gunners with a serious bargain.

Silva could come in and start from the first day, helping out in front of the defence. He has the potential to grow into one of the Premier League's top playmakers, and may be the best Arsenal have had since Cesc Fabregas.

Real Madrid are blocking the Gunners' path, and in all likelihood, Los Blancos will end up winning the race for his signature. However, as negotiations continue to fail, that €15 million offer from Arsenal still stands. The Gunners' message to Silva is clear: We want you, and we'll pay what we need to get you here.

The Gunners' patient approach could pay off in the long run, as the young star comes to the realisation perhaps Madrid isn't the best destination for him. Not only are they unwilling to meet his valuation—his progression may also be in danger, via Lang:

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As for Real Madrid, you wonder whether a move to the Bernabeu would really be best move for him at this stage of his career. With Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira on the books, Lucas could easily find himself in a similar position to Asier Illaramendi, biding his time without a guaranteed place in the side.

For a player of his quality, that would be a shame.

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If Arsenal do miss out on the player, Wenger will rest easy knowing Silva simply followed his heart and picked the club he absolutely wanted to play for. At least he gave the Gunners a chance, tabling a relatively low offer for a player who could still change his mind.

In this situation, the patient approach was the best thing Arsenal could have done. No one will lose face if he ends up signing for Real, and if he ends up moving to the Emirates, Wenger will have bagged himself a future superstar with minimal effort.

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