Arsenal have tables £36m bid for Brazil star Everton Soares as potential alternative signing to Wilfred Zaha.
The Gunners are ready to complete deal for the 23-year-old winger who helped his country at the Copa America this summer.
But they face competition from Napoli with the Italian club equally as keen in the Gremio forward.
A deal with Arsenal would cast doubt over whether the north Londoners will pursue a move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha this summer.
Marco Silva’s Everton entered the fray for the Ivory Coast star this week and are willing to meet the Eagles’ asking price – in excess of £70m while Arsenal have balked at the valuation.
Reports in Brazil suggest Soares has started to learn English in readiness for a move to the Premier League.