Barcelona will end the wait for their first summer signing this week as they will reportedly unveil Arthur Melo on Thursday.
The Catalan giants will undoubtedly need to address their midfield as they have lost two key individuals in that department this summer.
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As per BBC Sport, Paulinho has joined Guangzhou Evergrande on loan, while Sky Sports reported that club icon Andres Iniesta sealed a move to join Vissel Kobe at the end of last season.
In turn, that takes depth and quality away from the Barcelona midfield, and for a club looking to compete on multiple fronts moving forward, they can ill afford to be left short in the event of injuries and suspensions.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Arthur will arrive in Barcelona on Wednesday before going through the formalities connected to his move including a medical and signing his contract, before being officially unveiled to the media and supporters on Thursday.
Further, Marca add that the deal could cost the Catalan giants up to €40m in total.
The 21-year-old has impressed in his homeland with Gremio, but he now looks set to test himself in Europe with the daunting task of proving his worth to Barcelona by developing his game and adjusting to fit their style of play.
His versatility in being able to play various roles in midfield will likely make him a useful addition to the squad for coach Ernesto Valverde, but with Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and potentially the likes of Rafinha and Andre Gomes providing stiff competition, he will perhaps have to force his way up the pecking order first.
Nevertheless, with Barcelona now confirming the move as seen in the tweet below, it’s a crucial signing for them to address a key area in which they’ve become light. Further, they’ve adopted a long-term vision given Arthur is still in the early stages of his career and it remains to be seen just how much potential he has.
? Welcome @arthurmeloreal! Bem-vindo!
?? #EnjoyArthur
?? #EnjoyBarça pic.twitter.com/18YQ4uOXjW— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 9, 2018