Marcos Leonardo, the Santos attacker and target of interest for clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, may continue playing in Brazil until the middle of the next year. Despite previous interest from Chelsea during the European summer transfer window, a move did not materialize, and he continued playing for Santos.
Recent reports from ESPN Brasil suggest that although Arsenal has shown interest in the player, they have not made an offer yet. The report indicates that Arsenal might delay their pursuit of Marcos Leonardo until the end of the season, potentially allowing him to spend the first half of the Brazilian term with Santos next year. This strategy could provide Arsenal with the opportunity to assess the player's performance over an extended period before making a move. It's common for clubs to delay transfers to secure better deals or evaluate the player's consistency and form over a more extended period before finalizing a transfer.