Arsenal close in on Pablo Mari transfer as 'new £4.2m deal agreed'

Arsenal have reportedly agreed a new £4.2million deal to sign Pablo Mari from Brazilian club Flamengo in the January transfer window.

A £7.5million deal for centre-back Mari was agreed between Arsenal and Flamengo earlier this month.

However, as the Spanish defender arrived in London for a medical over the weekend, the Gunners complained they couldn't afford the fee and said they wanted a loan deal instead.

But Arsenal have now reached an agreement with Flamego which will see the 26-year-old join on loan for the rest of the season, according to widespread reports in Brazil.

Arsenal will pay a loan fee of £4.2m, with the deal including an option to sign the defender permanently in the summer, according to Globo.

The Brazilian outlet reports that Mari will return to London on Wednesday to finalise the transfer.

The Gunners are thought to have made the Mari deal a priority after centre-back Shkodran Mustafi was stretchered off during the FA Cup win over Bournemouth on Monday night.

Speaking to TalkSport, South American football expert Tim Vickery said: “I’ve been droning on about him to anyone who will listen for the past few months, because I think Manchester City missed a beat with this one."

He said Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus signed Mari from City for his ability to play a high line and pass the ball out of defence.

“No one in Brazil plays with a high line – it just doesn’t happen – so he needed a centre-back who could do it for him and they brought in Mari," said Vickery.

"He was unknown, he came in very cold and was thrown in at the deep end, but he sorted it out for them absolutely magnificently.

“For me, in that Flamingo side that coasted its way to the Brazilian championship, won the South American title and gave Liverpool a game in the Club World Cup final, I think he was the most important player."