Arsenal left-back Andre Santos to join Gremio till the end of the season

Brazilian sport website Lance.net claims that Arsenal left-back Andre Santos is set to join Liga do Brasil side Gremio on loan until the end of the season.

Santos, 29, joined Arsenal from Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce SK in 2011 and has since gone on to make 36 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, scoring three goals (against Olympiacos, Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion).

But while the Brazil international does contribute enough going forward, some sections of the club’s fanbase are of the opinion that he doesn’t track back as much, occasionally leaving the North Londoners exposed on the flank.

With the arrival of new signing Nacho Monreal and youth product Kieran Gibbs already established ahead of him, Santos’ opportunities on the left look limited.

Lance.net claims that Santos’ signature will have to be completed by next Friday, the cut-off date for player registrations for the Copa Libertadores. South American football is on hiatus due to the Brazilian Carnival fiesta at the moment, but the two sides are in advanced negotiations and are confident of completing the deal before Gremio face Chilean side Huachipato on Thursday.

According to sources on Twitter, the deal has already been done. Rui Costa, the Brazilian outfit’s sporting director, had this to say:

“He’s coming. And already wants to play next week!”

Santos has been capped 22 times for his country and was a member of his nation’s successful Confederations Cup squad in 2009 and the 2011 Copa America, where the Selecao were eliminated 2-0 on penalties by Paraguay in the quarter-finals with Santos failing to convert his spot-kick.