Sporting Starter Was on Arsenal's Summer Wishlist (See Who Else Made the Cut)

Arsenal's planning for the recent transfer window was meticulously demanding. According to the BBC, the Gunners' football structure, spearheaded by Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar, compiled an extensive watchlist featuring over 20 names to bolster various areas of the squad before the season kicked off.

Among the targets identified on the London club's radar was a regular starter for Sporting, a young player who has established himself as a crucial component in the Alvalade club's setup and was duly noted by Arsenal's scouting department as a potential alternative for the right flank.

Despite the interest, negotiations did not progress to a formal offer before the transfer window closed. The player remains focused on the green and white project, but... he's still firmly on the Premier League's radar.

The Gunners' extensive summer shortlist also included several prominent names from European football, spread across all positions on the pitch, as you can see in the photo gallery above.