Arsenal transfer news: Sanchez to be reunited with team-mate?

Posted Saturday, August 16, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Arsenal could reunite Alexis Sanchez with one of his Chile team-mates, with reports in Italy claiming the Gunners are on the verge of signing Eduardo Vargas. talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight takes a look at the forward…

Name: Eduardo Jesus Vargas Rojas

Date of birth: 20 November, 1989

Birthplace: Renca, Chile

Position: Forward

Club: Napoli

International appearances: 34 Chile caps

Honours: Chilean Primera Division (x2), Copa Sudamericana (2011), Best Player of the 2011 Copa Sudamericana

What's the latest?

Suspicions about Vargas' future were raised when he was omitted from Napoli's squad to face Athletic Bilbao in a Champions League qualifier next week. Further reports from Italy suggest he will leave Serie A this summer and Arsenal are believed to be keen, though Valencia have already expressed their own interest in bringing him back to the Mestalla. Vargas spent a loan spell last season.

Did you know?

1) Vargas struggled to find continuity as a youngster, switching between several teams and even participating in a reality TV show sponsored by Adidas. He eventually found stability at Cobreloa, who he joined in 2006.

2) The forward turned professional at Cobreloa, scoring his first senior goal in 2008. By 2010 he had done enough to earn a move to Universidad de Chile on a four-year deal. Over the course of three seasons with the Chilean giants he scored 33 goals in all competitions.

3) The youngster's displays in front of goal inevitably led to interest from European clubs, and Napoli succeeded in signing him in 2012. He has struggled to find regular playing time in Italy, however, going out on loan at Gremio and, most recently, Valencia.

4) Vargas joined Los Che in January of 2014, and participated in their run to the semi-finals of the Europa League. He scored five goals and assisted four more for the La Liga side in half a season.

5) The Napoli man was a regular for Chile at youth level, and eventually made his senior debut in November 2009 against Paraguay. He scored in his nation's 2-0 win over Spain during the 2014 World Cup group stage.

"The truth is that at the moment there are no official offers for Eduardo, only rumours in the press." – Vargas' agent Cristian Ogalde.