On-loan midfielder Denilson has failed to reach an agreement with São Paulo, with whom he is on loan, and could return to Arsena this summer.

It’s likely that his return will see him sold or loaned elsewhere as Arsenal have considered him surplus to requirements for some time now. Unable to reach agreement over his sale last summer to a number of Spanish clubs, he was eventually loaned to the Brazilian side where he has had a patchy time.

Speaking to ESPN, the midfielder said, “I’d like to stay for another 6 months, but it’s not my decision. I have a contract with Arsenal and I have to stick to it. I will not be unhappy in London since returning to one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Such optimism seems misplaced though. Already down the pecking order last summer, he’d now find himself behind Wilshere, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Arteta, Coquelin, and even Diaby, not to mention any further midfield signings we might make.

Which is probably why his agent is quoted as saying, “At the moment, Arsenal is demanding that the player returns. But football is unpredictable. From the talks we had, São Paulo will keep trying to extend Denilson’s loan.”

The likelihood is that Arsenal will lower their asking price for a number of players this summer in order to move them on. Denilson is one of them, with a move to Spain on the cards, along with Carlos Vela (wanted by his loan club Real Sociedad) and Nicklas Bendtner, with suggestions that the club could even allow them to leave on a free in order to get them off the wage bill and free up space in the squad.

In the meantime, Denilson wants to end his spell in Brazil on a high.

“‘We had an unbeaten sequence, playing well and with a chance of winning Copa do Brazil [similar to FA Cup] and State Championship,” he said.

“In these 2 months I have left in Brazil, I want to win both titles for the club of my heart. I think this way I’ll leave with duty accomplished with myself and the supporters, who have always been behind me’.

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Thanks to BrazilGunners

– who you should follow for all your Brazilian Arsenal needs.