Arsenal have secured a "dream for any manager" in agreeing a deal with Porto for Fabio Vieira.
That is the message from former Porto youth coach Manuel Tulipa, who was speaking to BBC Sport after the Primeira Liga side confirmed that terms for the transfer had been agreed.
Mikel Arteta's side will pay £30million (€35m) up front with £4.2m (€5m) in add-ons, with the move subject to Vieira agreeing personal terms with the Premier League side.
Arsenal will add another creative outlet to their ranks, which already boasts Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Vieira provided the most assists (14) among Porto players in the 2021-22 Primeira Liga campaign and scored six league goals.
The 22-year-old also ranked joint-fifth for chances created (34), while playing 27 times, and Tulipa hailed the transfer as a good deal for all parties.
"Players like Fabio are worth a lot of money, so if you can grab them before they fully break out, why not? That's smart business," he said.
"He's that kind of creative midfielder who comes with the solution when you're struggling during a game. He can see what's going on around him and anticipate what will happen.
"That's the dream for any manager and the sort of footballer that clubs are always after.
"He has all the tools – he can dribble, combine, slow down the tempo, break into the box, score. Players like this have to be close to goal.
"One thing he needed to improve, however, were his actions without the ball, but he did so over the past months.
"He has grown into a more collective athlete under [Porto coach Sergio] Conceicao and found the right balance between the different moments of the game."
Dujon Sterling ‘thrilled’ to sign Rangers deal after ending Chelsea career
Rangers have announced the signing of Chelsea right-back Dujon Sterling.
The 23-year-old will join on a four-year contract on July 1 when his Chelsea deal expires.
The versatile player made two substitute outings for Chelsea in cup competitions but has made more than 100 first-team appearances across loan spells with Coventry, Wigan, Blackpool and Stoke. He played 28 times this season with Sky Bet Championship side Stoke.
Rangers manager Michael Beale told his club’s official website: “I am delighted to welcome Dujon to Rangers, he is an exciting young player who, I’m sure, will be a great addition to our squad.
“He is someone I was aware of from my time at Chelsea, and I have always kept an eye on his career as it has progressed.
“He is a very powerful and strong defender, who has fantastic attacking qualities and I look forward to working with him at Rangers.”
Sterling added: “I am really excited to come to such a big club, there’s a lot of history and the supporters are so passionate, so I am thrilled.
“I wasn’t expecting to make my mind up about my future this quickly, but the gaffer came in for me straight away and what he proposed to me was everything that I believe I need.
“We were on the same wavelength, he believes in me and I believe in what he is trying to do as well so it was a no-brainer for me to come.”
Ange Postecoglou: Celtic have to be at their ‘absolute best’ against Inverness
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has stressed they have to be at their “absolute best” against Inverness in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final after hearing about the history between the clubs in the competition.
Caley Thistle have knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup three times in seven meetings this century and the Hoops needed to come from behind in two of their triumphs.
Inverness beat Celtic 3-1 at Parkhead as a First Division club in the first encounter between the teams in February 2000 in a result that cost John Barnes his job as manager.
They also beat Martin O’Neill’s side in 2003 four days after the Hoops had won at Anfield on their way to the UEFA Cup final.
Ronny Deila also fell foul of Caley Thistle in the 2015 semi-finals in a result that cost Celtic the chance of a treble.
When told some people were predicting a walkover when the Scottish champions face a side who finished fifth in the cinch Championship, Postecoglou told Celtic TV: “The people at this club don’t tell me about that, they tell me about the past results against them, which makes you realise that if you are not on it on the day you can be beaten and there’s consequences to that.
“I can assure you that no-one in the building here is going into it with anything other than the approach that we have to be at our absolute best on the day.”
Caley Thistle have only played once since their semi-final win over Falkirk, losing to Ayr on May 5 in a late defeat which cost them a place in the Premiership play-offs.
“It’s a bit of a weird one for them, they won’t have had a game for close to a month by the time the cup final comes around,” Postecoglou said. “I’m sure they have been working away and had bounce games when they can.
“It’s a different opponent for us but, irrespective, it’s a cup final. Who the opponent is becomes secondary to the fact that you know you need to perform on the day and if you do there is a massive reward at the end of it.”
Hibernian to host 24-hour charity match in memory of late owner Ron Gordon
Hibernian will host a 24-hour charity football match at their training ground next month in memory of their late owner Ron Gordon.
The event will kick off at 3pm on Saturday, June 24 and finish the following afternoon, with as many supporters as possible encouraged to participate, while there will also be involvement from Lee Johnson’s first team.
Gordon died in February after a battle with cancer and funds raised from the match in his honour will go to the Hibernian Community Foundation.
“Ron was an extremely passionate man and someone who cared dearly about the role the football club plays in the local community,” said chief executive Ben Kensell.
“We want to create something special and something that carries on the legacy of a great man, by bringing supporters and people together, right to the heart of the football club, to raise money for the Hibernian Community Foundation.
“I think this challenge is really exciting and could be really testing – especially for those playing at 3am or 4am – but ultimately, it’ll be a good laugh for everyone and will bring the football club, the supporters, and the Community Foundation all together.”
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