---
title: "Premier League duo chase ‘new Mascherano’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-duo-chase-new-mascherano/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Greenwood"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2012-12-19T21:00:26Z"
modified: "2012-12-19T21:00:26Z"
---

# Premier League duo chase ‘new Mascherano’

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ezequiel+Cirigliano-150x150.jpg)Arsenal and Manchester City are always good for a rumour at the Football Transfer Tavern, and today Jamie Sanderson of [Metro](https://metro.co.uk/2012/12/18/arsenal-join-man-city-in-hunt-for-new-javier-mascherano-ezequiel-cirigliano-3322086/) has one for us that involves both.

Apparently Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini are both poised to make a bid for 20-year-old Argentine midfield enforcer Ezequiel Cirigliano who currently plays in his homeland for River Plate.

The youngster has attracted interest across Europe, and Mancini is said to be weighing up a £5 million bid for the player. Wenger is in the hunt for a holding midfielder, and Cirigliano fits the bill perfectly – being young, talented and not too expensive.

He has been so impressive for River Plate this season, that he has been described as ‘the new Javier Mascherano’ – his fellow countryman and current Barcelona star.

River Plate are thought to want in excess of £8 million for his services, and may look to include Arsenal misfit Andre Santos as part-exchange in any potential deal.

### **Is Cirigliano coming to the Premier League? Vo**te in our polls below.