Well, damn it. I was hoping to keep this one quiet for a bit longer, but the cat's officially out of the bag now. Arsenal's long-running pursuit of Brazilian teenage sensation Luighi has hit a serious roadblock, and I'm honestly a bit worried about our chances.

The European Vultures Are Circling

I've been tracking this kid since late 2023, and let me tell you - he's special. But now Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund have decided to crash our party after the youngster just extended his contract with Palmeiras. Typical timing, right?

The new deal runs until 2029 with a release clause north of £70million. Ouch. Though my contact at the club (who owes me a beer from our last meetup in São Paulo) insists European clubs have historically managed to negotiate Palmeiras down. Remember when Chelsea snagged Estevao despite his £60m clause? They ended up paying just £28m for the privilege.

Speaking of Estevao...

Chelsea's Gain Could Be Our Opening

Here's where things get interesting. Estevao is actually one of teh main reasons Luighi hasn't been starting regularly. With the former heading to Stamford Bridge this summer, Luighi should finally get his shot at consistent first-team football.

This matters enormously for any UK work permit application. Trust me, I've seen promising deals collapse over this exact issue back in 2021. The Home Office doesn't mess around.

What Makes This Kid So Special Anyway?

I first noticed Luighi scoring a couple of bangers for Brazil in the U-17 World Cup. The 19-year-old has since been tearing it up in Palmeiras' youth setup, particularly in their run to the U-20 Copa Libertadores final earlier this year.

Joao Freire (decent journalist, terrible poker player) from Nosso Palmeiras described him perfectly last October: a player with "an eye for goal and an ability to create space where none seems to exist."

His close control reminds me of watching a cat navigate a cluttered tabletop without disturbing a single item. Effortless. Fluid. The kid moves like he's got the controller settings on beginner mode while everyone else is playing on legendary.

The Palmeiras Production Line Never Stops

Look, I've spent enough time in Brazil covering their domestic scene to know that Palmeiras isn't just any academy. They're basically Brazilian football's answer to Silicon Valley - constantly innovating and producing the next big thing.

Estevao, Luiz Guilherme (who's doing bits at West Ham), Vitor Reis at City, and our very own Gabriel Jesus all came through their ranks. When Palmeiras says they've got a special talent, you listen.

The Competition Is Getting Scary

Inter Milan got tipped off about Luighi by some Italian agent who's been based in Brazil for years. Smart move on their part. And Dortmund? They're already planning for life after Bynoe-Gittens, who seems Premier League-bound.

Real Madrid are lurking too, which gives me nightmares after what happened with Endrick in 2022. We literally just knocked them out of the Champions League and they might respond by snatching our transfer target. Football can be so petty sometimes.

I spent three hours on the phone last night with my source close to the player's camp. The situation is... fluid. And not in a good way.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Arsenal need to move quickly. The days of us having a clear run at Luighi are gone. If Edu and Arteta really want this kid (and they should), it's time to get serious with the checkbook.

I've seen too many "next big things" slip through our fingers over the years.

This one feels different though. Worth the fight.