European clubs are settle to battle over Santos hotshot Marcos Leonardo when the January transfer window opens.
Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked with the 20-year-old striker in recent months but sturdy competition comes in the form of Newcastle and Roma.
Leonardo has hit 17 goals for Santos during the 2023 campaign for the Brazilian club, which sold teenage forwards Angelo Gabriel and Deivid Washington to Chelsea during the summer.
There were also offers for Leonardo to move on but he stayed put in Sao Paulo - and is now primed to move on.
The player's agent, Rafaela Pimenta, is quoted in Italian media as saying: "Already in the previous transfer market he had the possibility of being sold, but Santos’ sporting situation was very particular.
"He agreed to stay because he wanted to help out until the end of the championship. He didn’t want to leave because it wasn’t the right thing to do.
"But the time has come to move. He wants to have a European experience and his time will come this winter."
Arsenal have been linked with a move into the transfer market for a new striker amid Gabriel Jesus' recent injury issues, however they appear to be prioritising signing a midfielder.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's transfer plans could be overhauled by the imminent arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as minority shareholder.
