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Arsenal close to signing left back André Santos from Fenerbahçe SK

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In a move that's bloomed on twitter like mushrooms after rain this evening, Arsenal are reportedly making a move for  Brazilian left back André Santos, lately of Turkish Super League club Fenerbahçe S.K.:

Arsenal confirm to me that Fenerbahce left-back Andre Santos is set to join for about £6.2m, subject to medical and personal terms #afcless than a minute ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet Reply

 

More after the jump:

Santos, 28, is a classic Brazilian left back, swashbuckling his way forward in attack and a little bit suspect in defense. For £6.2 million, Jose Enrique offers perhaps a little bit more defense and Premier League experience, but Santos does have Champions League experience and has been capped by Brazil 22 times since 2009, so he's no chopped liver.

The move corresponds with rumors that Armand Traore is set for a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers, which, based on his limp performance yesterday at Old Trafford and his weirdly happy demeanor afterwards, probably won't come as a big blow for a lot of supporters. Santos is a player exactly where the club need one the most at the moment, given the suspect play of Traore and the exceptional fragility of Kieran Gibbs. Getting Santos would mean that Bacary Sagna can resume his play on the right as well, where he is a plus player and can hang back defensively while Santos would storm forward.

Santos would offer Arsenal a new dimension in attack up the left, well, one they haven't had since a certain English left back departed a few years ago. His addition immediately helps the club, and at 28, he can offer a good few years of service going forward.