Arsenal complete first permanent January transfer

All the Arsenal headlines have been dominated by strikers and midfielders this window with Dusan Vlahovic‘s name unable to go five minutes without being mentioned.

Then the glaring issues in midfield come into the equation with Arsenal lacking in senior options ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool at Anfield.

Work is underway to source the bodies needed to fill those positions, while in the background other dealings have been taken place, including the first permanent signing of the window.

But don’t get too carried away just yet.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWheatley_/status/1481007675529994253

Arsenal complete first permanent January transfer with left-back Lino Da Cruz Sousa signing from West Brom this winter window

As per Chris Wheatley, the Gunners have completed the signing of 16-year-old Lino Da Cruz Sousa from West Bromwich Albion, another piece in the jigsaw for Per Mertesacker who is undertaking a considerable amount of work on the academies since taking charge.

The left back, who is part Brazilian but has represented England at Under-15 and 16 level, has been tipped for a bright future having already been featuring above his age group for the Baggies. Still yet to turn 17, he made appearances for West Brom’s Under-18’s last season as well as starting a Premier League 2 match back in February 2021.

"“Lino’s an athletic full-back, reads the game well, has a lovely left foot and it’s not often a 16-year-old plays an entire season with the 18s, but that’s credit to him because he has so much potential,” said Peter Gilbert, a West Brom Under-18’s coach."

The deal has been fully sewn up and Da Cruz Sousa has already been training with his new Arsenal teammates at London Colney.

Mertesacker had listed left-back as a key area to strengthen this January with not much cover after Joel Lopez, although it’s not known which age group the new arrival will slot into at first.

Elsewhere in the academy, Tim Akinola, Zak Swanson, James Olayinka and Ryan Alebiosu have all been made available for loan this window. Folarin Balogun, meanwhile, is inches away from being unveiled as a Middlesbrough player.

It’s a matter of announcing the deal now with Boro agreeing to pay a loan fee of around £1m as well as cover 15% of his £40k-per-week wages, which will near enough amount them covering his whole salary.