Arsenal Looking at Inter Striker Lautaro Martinez for a Potential Transfer

Arsenal are believed to be exploring the possibility of signing highly-rated striker Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan, according to The Athletic. The 23-year-old has two years left on his current deal, and there’s still a considerable distance between the parties regarding talks of a contract extension.

The Gunners are believed to be surprised at the price for which the player is available at the moment. It is believed that the Serie A club would demand around £70-80m for the Argentinian striker. However, the Italian side have been severely impacted by the pandemic and need quick departures to improve the financial stability of the club.

Lautaro Martinez, Arsenal — (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

Lautaro Martinez scored 17 goals and recorded 10 assists for Inter Milan last season and helped the team win the Serie A title after 11 years. However, Inter see the 23-year-old forward as a more expendable asset than Belgian Romelu Lukaku.

Thus, there will be a willingness to do a deal for around £60 million, which is unlikely to be insurmountable for the Premier League side. They have already been given indications that the deal can be wrapped up if they stump up a reasonable offer for the former Racing Club striker.

Moreover, Inter’s interest in Hector Bellerin might make the deal even sweeter for the Gunners who are also looking to add their 2020/21 top scorer Alexander Lacazette in the deal. But, the report claims that the Nerazzurri have refused a player exchange and only want cash.

In speaking with Inter Milan about Bellerin, Arsenal enquired on Lautaro Martinez. 23yo striker (contract 2023) is for sale & #AFC thought to have mentioned Lacazette, but #Inter need cash + hope it helps them keep Chelsea target Lukaku @TheAthleticUK #CFC https://t.co/ldSuW48a0f

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 31, 2021

Lautaro Martinez was close to penning fresh terms with the Italian club in February, but the landscape altered after the player changed his agent in the month of April. The Gunners have been tracking Martinez for several years and are looking to pounce on any possible opportunity to sign him and Inter Milan’s unstable financial condition has presented a huge opportunity for the Gunners.

If Arsenal arrive with an attractive offer, it would be hard for them to turn it down, due to the player’s contractual situation and the club’s bleak financial standing at this moment. Moreover, the report also states that the player might be interested in a move to the Emirates.

The Nerazzurri have already started looking at alternatives with fellow Italian side Lazio’s Joaquin Correa highly appreciated by the club as well as the new manager Simone Inzaghi.

We are coming to takeover #LautaroMartinez #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/kFIyif08pE

— AfcTaxman (@ShadyGooner_) July 31, 2021

Personal Viewpoint: Lautaro Martinez’s link to Arsenal shows how quickly the transfer market can evolve. The Gunners’ pursuit of Manuel Locatelli was a show of huge ambition that the club has shown this summer.

Having already wrapped up the signature of Ben White for a whopping £50 million from Brighton, the club’s net spend this season currently ranks them behind only Manchester United in the Premier League. It is certainly exciting that the North London side, who have been underwhelming, to say the least in the past several seasons, are showing great ambition in the transfer market to get the club back to where it belongs.

However, Arsenal are still far from the finishing line and they cannot stop and raise their hands to celebrate just now. Arsenal still need to sign a backup goalkeeper, an attacking midfielder and a striker, if Alexander Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah depart.

Signing a new right-back would also be ideal, but the club can do with Cedric and Calum Chambers for the next season because there’s already so much on their plates, to begin with.

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