Arsenal news: The Gunners are interested in signing Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
Locatelli is one of the best Italian midfielders of his generation. He began his professional career with AC Milan before moving to Sassuolo on loan in 2018 and then permanently in 2019.
The 24-year-old midfielders made 99 appearances in all competitions for the Emilia-Romagna outfit, registering seven goals and 11 assists. His performances at the Mapei Stadium earned him a loan to Juventus in 2021, and the Turin side are required to sign him permanently for €25m.
He has made 51 appearances in all competitions for the Bianconeri so far, registering three goals and five assists. Locatelli was among Italy’s stars as they lifted the UEFA Euro 2020 trophy.
Arsenal news: Manuel Locatelli linked with move to Emirates Stadium
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According to Calciomercatoweb (via Transfer News Live), Juventus are set to launch a bid in January to sign Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
The Gunners tried to hijack Locatelli’s transfer to the Turin-based side in 2021. But they failed in their pursuit as the player was adamant about a move to join the Italian giants.
However, they have rekindled their interest in the Italy international and are expected to make another attempt to sign him during the next window. According to The Sun, the Gunners are also exploring the possibility of offering Albert Sambi Lokonga in a direct trade for Locatelli.
Signing a new midfielder remains a key priority for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard attempted to bring in Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa during the final stages of the summer window, but the deal failed to materialise.
The former Manchester City assistant manager is expected to make another attempt to bolster his team’s midfield unity in January.
What will Manuel Locatelli bring to the Emirates Stadium?
Locatelli is a tenacious footballer who likes to operate as a central midfielder. His key strengths are his passing and tackling skills along with his ability in the air.
He has played six Serie A games this season, averaging 2.2 tackles, 0.8 key passes and 0.7 interceptions per 90. Aside from that, he also posted a passing accuracy of 83.1 in the Italian top division. .
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Whats Next?
Arsenal have enjoyed an excellent start to the current season, winning seven of their first eight league games. They are currently top of the Premier League table with 21 points from eight games. The Gunners will face FK Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League before taking on Liverpool in the league on 9 October.
