Sao Paulo director of football Adalberto Baptista is to speak with Arsenal about the possibility of extending Denilson's loan spell at the Brazilian club.

Brazilian club keen to extend midfielder's loan deal

Sao Paulo director of football Adalberto Baptista is to speak with Arsenal about the possibility of extending Denilson's loan spell at the Brazilian club. Denilson returned to his homeland last summer on a year-long loan deal, but it had looked as though he would be coming back to Emirates Stadium for the start of the new Premier League season after Sao Paulo recently admitted they could not afford his transfer fee. The 24-year-old had struggled to hold down a regular starting role with Arsenal before he was loaned out but the Gunners are now believed to want him back after some impressive performances for Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo are nevertheless hopeful he will be allowed to stay on another temporary arrangement and talks are set to take place in the near future. Vice-president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes told: "Arsenal's staff want him to return but we are waiting for [director of football] Adalberto Baptista to have talks with them. "Maybe we will manage to extend the loan for six more months or even another year." Asked about Arsenal's view on Denilson, De Jesus Lopes added: "They liked his performances, they liked Denilson's development. That's why they want him to return."