Football

Arsenal 'braced for £21m transfer bid' for unsettled midfielder Lucas Torreira


Arsenal are reportedly expecting Napoli to make a £21million transfer bid for unsettled midfielder Lucas Torreira in the January transfer window.

However, the Serie A club will first try to agree a loan deal with the Gunners over the 23-year-old Uruguayan.

Torreira has struggled to establish himself as a regular Arsenal starter after being deposed as the club’s first-choice holding midfielder by Matteo Guendouzi.

Napoli, now under manager Gennaro Gattuso, want to take Torreira back to Italy, with the Serie A club set to try and negotiate a loan deal first, according to Ilmattino .

The Italian publication says if Napoli fail in their bid to take Torreira on loan, they are prepared to bid 25million euros (£21m) for the player.

Lucas Torreira has struggled to establish himself as a regular Arsenal starter

Torreira previously played in Italy for Pescara and then Sampdoria. Napoli tried to sign the midfielder in summer last year but were trumped by Arsenal, who paid £26m for his services.

Last month, Torreira’s agent Pablo Bentancur claimed his client was unhappy at having his role in the team changed by former Gunners boss Unai Emery.

After impressing last season from a deep-lying midfield role, Torreira had been asked by Emery to play further forward this season.

His agent also said previously said the player was unhappy at his lack of game time. Torreira has started just seven Premier League matches so far this season.

Torreira was asked to play further forward than his favoured position by Unai Emery

Bentancur said: “I must say that the change of role has penalised him sharply.

“He is no longer at ease and we hope that things can change.”

The agent also said Atletico Madrid and AC Milan had previously expressed interest in Torreira – although he also said he thought Arsenal were not willing to sell.

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He said: “We got together with the Gunners’ general manager, Raul Sanllehi, and he immediately told us that for Arsenal, Torreira was not for sale – an adamant position.

Emery was sacked last month, with former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg having been placed in interim charge as the Gunners search for their next permanent manager.





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