Mikel Arteta finally agrees to let Arsenal wonderkid leave to Premier League rival

Arsenal youngster Lino Sousa is set to join Aston Villa permanently ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Sousa, 19, is a versatile young defender who joined the Gunners from West Bromwich Albion back in the 2022 January transfer window and has been involved in first-team training regularly under Mikel Arteta.

The talented teenager has failed to break into Arteta’s team, though, and is now on the cusp of linking up with Villa, per a new report from football.london. Reports elsewhere claim that Villa have beaten off significant interest to land the youngster’s signature from the likes of Juventus and Galatasaray.

Although Sousa was fast-tracked into senior training after impressing scouts, his route to the first team has been blocked by the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber.

It’s understood that Sousa, who primarily operates as a left-back, is moving in a bid to boost his chances of making a first-team breakthrough. He is poised to join Middlesbrough winger Morgan Rogers in joining Villa before the transfer deadline.

Sousa could be joined out the exit door by Cedric Soares, who is understood to be nearing a switch to Galatasaray. It remains to be seen if the Londoners will bring anyone in over the next 36 hours.

Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the weeks leading up to January before Arteta played down the possibility of bringing in a No.9.

Join the debate! Do you think Arsenal need to strengthen before the deadline? Let us know here.

The Spaniard hinted that Arsenal could be active before the deadline, though, on Tuesday. He said in his press conference: “At the moment, it is very difficult. We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully, we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

“That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

“But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.”

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Arsenal youngster Lino Sousa is set to join Aston Villa permanently ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Sousa, 19, is a versatile young defender who joined the Gunners from West Bromwich Albion back in the 2022 January transfer window and has been involved in first-team training regularly under Mikel Arteta.

The talented teenager has failed to break into Arteta’s team, though, and is now on the cusp of linking up with Villa, per a new report from football.london. Reports elsewhere claim that Villa have beaten off significant interest to land the youngster’s signature from the likes of Juventus and Galatasaray.

Although Sousa was fast-tracked into senior training after impressing scouts, his route to the first team has been blocked by the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber.

It’s understood that Sousa, who primarily operates as a left-back, is moving in a bid to boost his chances of making a first-team breakthrough. He is poised to join Middlesbrough winger Morgan Rogers in joining Villa before the transfer deadline.

Sousa could be joined out the exit door by Cedric Soares, who is understood to be nearing a switch to Galatasaray. It remains to be seen if the Londoners will bring anyone in over the next 36 hours.

Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the weeks leading up to January before Arteta played down the possibility of bringing in a No.9.

Join the debate! Do you think Arsenal need to strengthen before the deadline? Let us know here.

The Spaniard hinted that Arsenal could be active before the deadline, though, on Tuesday. He said in his press conference: “At the moment, it is very difficult. We are really short. We have positions that we have been very exposed for the last six weeks and hopefully, we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

“That’s a question mark and as well because we have some long-term injuries still for certain players that give us a lot of versatility and that’s an issue. We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.

“But it is a very, very tricky market that shifts very quickly and it is quite unpredictable as well – and you have to be prepared. We will be prepared and we will try to make the right calls. If there is something that we can [do to] improve the squad and that needs appear, and we cannot fulfil it with players here, we are always going to be open to do that because we want to be stronger.”

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.