Arsenal and Manchester United vie for Santos striker Marcos Leonardo | OneFootball

Arsenal and Manchester United are poised for a competitive pursuit of Marcos Leonardo, the talented 20-year-old striker from Santos.

Leonardo, who has made a significant impact in Brazilian football, is considering a move to Europe, drawing keen interest from these top clubs.

Arsenal and Manchester United are set to engage in a transfer battle for Marcos Leonardo, the 20-year-old Santos striker who has attracted attention from several top European clubs.

Leonardo, known for his impressive performances in Brazil, chose to stay with Santos until the end of the domestic season, which concludes in December.

His agent, Rafaela Pimenta, has indicated that Leonardo is ready to move on, expressing his desire for a European challenge this winter.

The striker’s decision to stay with Santos was initially driven by a sense of loyalty to help the team until the end of the championship, despite having opportunities to leave earlier.

Manchester United, potentially boosted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial takeover, and Arsenal, seeking forward options amid Gabriel Jesus’ injury issues, are the primary contenders for Leonardo’s signature.

However, they face competition from Newcastle and Roma.

Leonardo has already made 164 appearances for Santos across all competitions, scoring 54 goals and providing 11 assists, demonstrating his potential and value as a transfer target for these major clubs.

He has also managed to pick up 30 yellow cards, which works out at a booking every 5.4 games. For comparison, at Arsenal, Granit Xhaka was booked every 5.2 games.