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Wellington Silva has signed for Wanderers – but not in time to feature in last night’s game at MK Dons.
The Arsenal striker has penned a season-long loan deal and should make his debut against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Neil Lennon has tried to rush through the transfer in time to play last night but was held up by Tim Ream’s move to Fulham.
The American defender should gain international clearance today for his £1.75million switch to Craven Cottage, which would then release funds for Silva and Italian full-back Francesco Pisano.
Wanderers could not sanction payment of Silva’s loan fee to Arsenal until the Ream deal had been completely ratified.
But the arrival of the Brazil-born front man should give Lennon some options in attack, which have been sorely needed this season.
Silva has not yet featured for Arsenal’s first team but has had five separate loan spells in Spain, and now holds Spanish citizenship.
He arrived at the Emirates in 2010 and became a regular in the development squad but after the Football Association back-tracked on their decision to award him a special talent visa, the Gunners were left with little choice but to send him out on the continent to gain an EU passport.
The 22-year-old has featured for the likes of Levante, Murcia and Almeria and was also subject to interest from German club Hertha Berlin before he arrived at the Macron this week.
Rio-born Silva has also represented Brazil at Under-17 level and played for them at the 2009 World Cup before stepping up to the Under-21s briefly last year.
He has trained with his new team-mates and travelled to Stadium:MK last night, in case Ream’s transfer went through at the last moment.
It is understood that Pisano is not in the country at present but will fly in by the end of the week to put the finishing touches on his deal.
The 29-year-old has spent his entire playing career with Cagliari, making more than 200 appearances for the club, and spending a good portion of his career in Serie A.
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The Arsenal striker has penned a season-long loan deal and should make his debut against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Neil Lennon has tried to rush through the transfer in time to play last night but was held up by Tim Ream’s move to Fulham.
The American defender should gain international clearance today for his £1.75million switch to Craven Cottage, which would then release funds for Silva and Italian full-back Francesco Pisano.
Wanderers could not sanction payment of Silva’s loan fee to Arsenal until the Ream deal had been completely ratified.
But the arrival of the Brazil-born front man should give Lennon some options in attack, which have been sorely needed this season.
Silva has not yet featured for Arsenal’s first team but has had five separate loan spells in Spain, and now holds Spanish citizenship.
He arrived at the Emirates in 2010 and became a regular in the development squad but after the Football Association back-tracked on their decision to award him a special talent visa, the Gunners were left with little choice but to send him out on the continent to gain an EU passport.
The 22-year-old has featured for the likes of Levante, Murcia and Almeria and was also subject to interest from German club Hertha Berlin before he arrived at the Macron this week.
Rio-born Silva has also represented Brazil at Under-17 level and played for them at the 2009 World Cup before stepping up to the Under-21s briefly last year.
He has trained with his new team-mates and travelled to Stadium:MK last night, in case Ream’s transfer went through at the last moment.
It is understood that Pisano is not in the country at present but will fly in by the end of the week to put the finishing touches on his deal.
The 29-year-old has spent his entire playing career with Cagliari, making more than 200 appearances for the club, and spending a good portion of his career in Serie A.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]