Arsenal can fulfil Edu's vision by pushing ahead with Raphinha contingency plan

Arsenal may well be resigned to missing out on Raphinha this summer, but the Leeds winger's snub could lead them towards a player even more ideal for Edu's vision.

The Gunners have made a concerted effort to land the in-demand Brazilian attacker over the past few weeks, and, despite seeing an initial bid rejected out of hand, were thought to be leading the race for his signature just days ago. However, Arsenal's hopes of landing the 25-year-old have since suffered a number of significant setbacks.

London rivals Chelsea are understood to have edged in front in the transfer tug-of-war, reportedly agreeing a fee in excess of £55million for the Whites winger. Cash-strapped Barcelona - reportedly Raphinha's dream destination - may also return to gatecrash proceedings amid talk of a renewed transfer push following a critical cash injection.

With the chances of capturing the Leeds forward seemingly slimming with each passing hour, Arsenal may well be forced to turn their attentions elsewhere. But then again, maybe they already have.

Recent reports from Turkish outlet Aksam claim the Gunners have already 'started the transfer process' of snapping up Fenerbahce wonderkid Arda Guler - a creative midfielder who has drawn comparisons to former Arsenal favourite Mesut Ozil. The 17-year-old is said to be 'going to the best league in the world', and should the north Londoners lure the teenage to the capital, they would be completing quite the coup.

While the attacking midfielder may not possess the experience or be held in as high esteem as Raphinha, he could be a signing even more in-keeping with the philosophy of Arsenal technical director Edu. The Gunners chief recently emphasised the club's focus is on building a core group of