Arsenal have sensationally bid for Spanish goalkeeper Roberto less than two weeks after his move to Portugal, reports the Portuguese sports daily O Jogo this morning.
The 24 year old Spaniard, whose full name is Roberto Jiménez Gago, was snapped up by Benfica from Atletico Madrid last month for a fee of €8.5m after an impressive spell on loan at Real Zaragoza last season.
According to O Jogo, Arsenal made their interest known to Atletico Madrid and attempted to lower the Spanish team’s asking price but the Gunners failed to put together an acceptable offer and the Portuguese champions stepped in quickly to seal a deal at the English team’s expense.
A Bola first reported on Saturday that an English club had sent representatives to Portugal and were talking to Benfica over a bid of 12 million euros and O Jogo believe that it is Arsenal who are looking to clinch a deal, although Correia da Manha suggest that Newcastle United could be in the frame with Derek Llambias thought to be Portugal for negotiations.
Correia da Manha also hints that should Roberto leave the Lisbon based side could look to another Arsenal target, Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo, as a replacement.
