Arsenal technical director Edu has been spotted with Flamengo defender Pablo Mari.

Spaniard Mari is familiar to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta having been on the books at Manchester City for three years, although he never played a first-team game for the club.

Globo Esporte says the deal to sell Mari to the Gunners is now 'well under way', with the transfer set to cost around £7million after he was spotted with Edu preparing to fly to London.

Arteta has made strengthening the Gunners' defence a key priority ever since he arrived as head coach last month.

Mari played 30 times in the 2019 season, and was in the Flamengo team that lost 1-0 to Liverpool after extra-time in the Club World Cup final in Qatar last month.

Edu with pablo mari today
Done deal
Welcome to arsenal pic.twitter.com/2aWq87l7u4

— allawi (@Allawi_Ahmed30) January 25, 2020