Arsenal transfer news: Fabio Vieira price warning sent amid Eberechi Eze Tottenham fear

Arsenal "massively overpaid" when they signed Fabio Vieira from Porto, and the Gunners are going to have to accept a heavy loss on the midfielder if they offload him in the summer transfer window, expert Charles Watts believes.

Vieira is now back at London Colney after spending the 2024-25 season on loan with former club Porto - also representing the Dragons at the recent Club World Cup - but his future almost certainly lies away from the Emirates after an underwhelming two seasons.

As Ethan Nwaneri has now signed a new long-term deal and will compete with Martin Odegaard for central minutes, Vieira is surplus to requirements in North London, and Stuttgart are reported to be working on a deal for the 25-year-old.

West Ham United are also said to have shown an interest in signing Vieira, although speaking to Sports Mole, Watts warned Arsenal that they are not going to get "anywhere near" the £30m they paid for the playmaker three years ago.

“They should certainly be looking to sell him," Watts said. "It's definitely not a risk. He is a good player, a sellable asset because he's not on massive wages either. Arsenal took a bit of a punt on him, a pretty expensive punt, and it didn't work out, but I don't mind that sort of transfer.

Arsenal "massively overpaid" for Vieira transfer

“It was just massively overpaid for what they were getting, a player of his experience. Some lessons will be learned from that signing, but he is a player that would interest a lot of clubs because he's very talented, and maybe the physicality of the Premier League is just a bit too much for him. But if he did go to Spain or go to Germany, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him play very well for another club.

“They're not going to get anywhere near like what they paid for him, of course they're not, but I still think there's a player there where you can get some pretty decent funds for.”

Arsenal selling Vieira - who has produced three goals and 10 assists in 49 matches for the Gunners - would vacate a space for a new attacker to arrive, although the Gunners are at risk of a Tottenham Hotspur hijack in the race for Eberechi Eze.

The Emirates Stadium was initially believed to have been Eze's first-choice destination for a summer move, but Arsenal have not yet met Crystal Palace's desired price, and Spurs now appear to have jumped to the front of the queue.

Tottenham are on the lookout for a replacement for James Maddison following his ACL injury in pre-season, and Eze is reported to be keen to join the Europa League winners after Spurs re-entered talks with Palace over a transfer, but they will need to agree on a fee after his £68m release clause expired.

Rather than Spurs rekindling their interest kicking Arsenal into gear, Watts believes that Nwaneri's new deal has lessened the need for a new number 10, while also conceding that the sales needed to free up funds and space are not imminent.

Eze transfer latest: Charles Watts comments on Spurs links amid Arsenal fear

“It’s a hard one," he added. "We're all waiting to see if this does kick Arsenal into gear. It feels a bit unlikely to me unless they do move people on. The Eze interest is real, but with Ethan signing that new contract, that lessened the need a little bit.

“There was definitely a chance that Ethan could move on this summer if that contract wasn't signed; there was strong interest. I think Arsenal were expecting some pretty big bids to come in for Ethan if the contract wasn't signed, so they were putting plans in place, but him signing now has just lessened the need for it.

“It hasn't ended the interest, but they would need to sell players now before moving for him, and at the moment that doesn't feel close. That could change very quickly, but it doesn't feel like a significant sale or two which would open the door is right around the corner.

“It would take a big shift from Arsenal to suddenly think ‘we've got to stop him signing for Spurs’. I'm not sure they would do that without selling players. It’s going to hurt if he does go to Tottenham, because I still think Arsenal need him. I've waited patiently all summer hoping it would happen, and to see him with a Spurs shirt would not be nice!

“I can understand the frustration for fans; I think if you asked 100 Arsenal fans which player they want more than anyone else before the end of the window, I think Eze would definitely come on top of that list. It's going to be a painful one to take if he does go to Spurs, but it might happen unfortunately.”

Vieira is not expected to be part of the travelling squad for Arsenal's Premier League opener against Manchester United on Sunday, and the former Portugal youth international is only under contract at Arsenal for another two seasons.