Arsenal transfer news: Gunners preparing bid for wantaway Shakhtar Donestk midfielder Douglas Costa
Gunners could allow Joel Campbell to leave without playing for the club as reports claim Arsene Wenger wants to sign the 23-year-old Brazilian
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal are believed to be strengthening their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Douglas Costa as the Brazilian continues to push for a move away from the Ukrainian club.
23-year-old Costa is one of six Brazilians who have refused to return to the club following the off-season due to the continuing political issues between Ukraine and Russia, which appears to have led to the tragic plane crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 that killed 298 people when it was thought to have been shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
With the South American contingent currently unwilling to return to Shakhtar – Donetsk is currently held by pro-Russian rebels and is just 38 miles from the crash site – the Ukrainian league champions could be forced to sell sooner rather than later.
That is said to have alerted Arsene Wenger, with reports from Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claiming that the FA Cup champions are preparing to make a move for the Brazil Under-20’s star.
Any successful move for Costa could see current striker Joel Campbell join AC Milan even though he is yet to make his debut for the Gunners.
Campbell enjoyed a hugely successful World Cup with Costa Rica as they progressed from Group D along with Uruguay, knocking out Italy and England in the process. The tournament in Brazil culminated a wonderful 12 months for Campbell that saw him rise to form with Olympiakos last season in both the Greek Superleague and the Champions League.
However, despite joining up with the Arsenal squad today for the pre-season training camp in Austria, the Metro reports that Wenger remains unconvinced by Campbell over whether he can succeed in the Premier League.
It is also claimed that Milan have already held talks with the Gunners over a move for the 22-year-old, but while a permanent move would be the preference for the struggling Italian side that lost 5-1 to Manchester City in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, a loan move appears to be the more likely option.
The move would see Wenger continue with his recruitment drive in what has been one of his busiest summer transfer windows for some time, having already signed former Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez in a £35m deal.
Wenger has also added right-backs Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers for a combined total of £28m, and goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice for £3.2m.
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