Rio de Janeiro, Dec 13 (IANS): English football club Arsenal are close to securing highly rated Brazilian midfielder Romulo as manager Arsene Wenger seeks to bolster his options in the centre of the field.
According to Brazilian news portal Lancenet, the Gunners are set to fend off interest from Brazil's Flamengo and Internacional by securing the Spartak Moscow player on a permanent move, reported Xinhua.
A deal is expected to be signed within days, paving the way for Romulo to join the London club during the Premier League's January transfer window.
The 24-year-old has made just 22 appearances for Spartak, having missed 18 months with an knee injury shortly after his 2012 transfer from Vasco da Gama.
He has been capped eight times by Brazil and was a member of the Selecao's 2012 London Olympic campaign.