Arsenal poised to smash transfer record on Palacio (video)

Reports in Argentina claim that Rodrigo Palacio will fly to London early this week for a medical after Boca Juniors accepted a bid from Arsenal for the player.

The 25 year old was expected to join Barcelona before they swooped for Henry. The transfer would smash their transfer record; the fee will be 15m pounds. Palacio is likely to end up wearing Henry’s former number 14 shirt as well; it’s the same number that Palacio wears for both Boca. Both of Palacio former clubs, Huracan and Banfield, are due a share of the transfer fee.

Barcelona had agreed to a deal for the same amount for Palacio but broke off negotiations once they heard Henry was in fact going to be available.

Palacio scored 39 goals in his 79 appearances for Boca Juniors. He has won 5 Argentine caps and played in this month’s Copa America but has not featured as a regular starter as Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez have been the regular starting pair up front.

Arsenal's previous record signing was Sylvain Wiltord for 12.5m pounds in 2000, 7 years ago.

Should a deal be finalized mid-week, this would make 5 new players signed this summer with striker Eduardo Da Silva, full-backs Havard Nordtveit and Bacary Sagna, and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski now all on the books.

Here is a video of some goals scored for Boca Juniors: