Porto have rejected a transfer bid for Arsenal target Vitinha, club president Pinto da Costa has confirmed.
The Portuguese midfielder has a £35million release clause in his contract amid interest from the Gunners, Manchester United and Barcelona.
It was reported this week by Record that the Gunners are the only club willing to meet that demand, before Da Costa admitted an offer had landed from an unnamed club below the asking price.
“There was a concrete offer, of considerable value, for Vitinha that we did not accept,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“And we refered them to the release clause, which is only way to take our player.”
He added that he did not believe the fans would be “worried” by the prospect of selling one of their star players this summer.
Arsenal have already signed Brazilian youngster Marquinhos this summer and are interested in Leeds winger Raphinha plus Marco Asensio of Real Madrid.
Da Costa added that there has not been any contact for Newcastle target Diogo Costa, Mehdi Taremi and Toni Martinez, who is thought to be wanted by clubs in Spain.
