Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy - August 22, 2022, Juventus' Manuel Locatelli reacts.
Arsenal are considering making a surprise move to sign Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, according to reports in Italy.
The Lowdown: Luiz alternative
Mikel Arteta was looking to bolster his central midfield reinforcements over the summer, but failed to land Douglas Luiz from Premier League rivals Aston Villa despite making three last-minute offers.
The Spaniard will have to persist with the options currently at his disposal, but that hasn’t stopped Edu from beginning preparations for the January window, and the 24-year-old Locatelli appears to have been identified as a potential target.
The Latest: Arsenal contenders to sign Locatelli
According to CalcioMercato.it (via Sport Witness), Arsenal have been named as a ‘surprise destination’ for Locatelli, whose departure from Serie A is ‘being considered’.
The report states that the Gunners have been monitoring the Italian ‘for a long time’, and could be set to ‘return for his signing’.
It’s claimed that a move to the capital ‘is a possibility’ for next summer, making the north London outfit a genuine ‘contender’ to secure his services.
The Verdict: Potential bargain
Locatelli would bring a wealth of experience and pedigree to Arsenal, making him a welcome addition to a young squad at the Emirates Stadium.
The ‘tenacious’ ace, as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has provided 16 assists and scored 14 goals throughout his career (WhoScored), and was part of Italy’s Euro 2020 winning squad last summer.
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Juventus being open to his exit could also mean they would let him go for a cut-price deal, and this would be a bargain that the Gunners should pounce on if the opportunity was to arise.
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