Despite Ars
enal’s poor start to the season, Gunners fans may yet have reason to celebrate should the reports emanating from Italy be believed.
Calciomercato has linked Arsenal with a move for exciting Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo.
A regular for both club and country, Montolivo recently refused a contract extension from the Florence based club, and should no new deal be negotiated, he will be free to leave the club next summer. Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to spend big money and skill at sniffing out a bargain would make a move for Montolivo a perfect fit.
Although agreeing a contract with Montolivo himself would not secure the player’s services until next season, Fiorentina may be willing to cut their losses on the player in January and allow him to leave in a cut-price deal, if the Italian seems unlikely to agree a new deal at the club.
This kind of an opportunity rarely goes unnoticed, and both Bayern Munich and Juventus, as well as AC and Inter Milan, are all believed to be interested in adding Montolivo to their squads. Given Arsenal’s poor start to the season, Wenger will have his work cut out trying to convince Montolivo that Arsenal are a better fit for him than any of the other clubs chasing him, and may have to offer a rather large contract to fend off the other potential suitors.
