Joel Campbell and Wellington Silva are said to be closing on deals away from Arsenal Football Club.
The Gunners are believed to be actively seeking a striker to add to their options this summer, but with a wealth of players available to play in the midfield and advanced positions, some players will not be guaranteed the amount of football they would have wished.
Joel Campbell enjoyed a run in the first-team last season, and impressed, but the emergence of Alex Iwobi from the youth side has knocked him back down the pecking order, and he is now claimed to have been told to find a new club. It does not say he must leave permanently, but at 24 years-old, you would think both parties should be considering parting ways.
Wellington Silva signed for Arsenal in 2010, although wasn’t permitted to complete the switch until 2011 when he turned 18, and was then not given a work permit, which complicated things further. The Brazilian was then sent out on a succession of loan deals to Spain, as they looked to give him experience, while awaiting his permit.
Last summer, Silva was granted the right to work in the UK, and was then sent out on loan to Bolton Wanderers, but has so far failed to live up to the potential shown when trialling for our side in 2010.
He has recently given a big hint that he could be set to return to Brazil this summer, by holding up a Fluminese kit, with the words ‘A good son always returns home’ captioned.
Whether these deals do go through or not remains to be seen, but what looks apparent is that if they stay put, they will be limited to rare occasions of first-team action, if any.
Does Campbell deserve to fight it out this season? Has he shown enough ability to warrant a place in the playing squad?
Patrick J