According to reports, Arsenal have now ‘offered’ defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira to Lazio, who arrives at the Emiartes after a season-long loan spell with Fiorentina. With the month of June upon us, clubs are busy finalising their ins and outs for the upcoming season. Arsenal are no different and while they need to plan more for their signings, the club also have to decide about the necessary exits in order to make space in their squad. One such player who is surplus to Mikel Arteta’s requirements is Lucas Torreira.
Lucas Torreira arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Sampdoria in the summer of 2018. However, he failed to make an impact at Arsenal and has been sent on loan to different clubs since 2020. In 2020, the Uruguayan midfielder was loaned out to Atletico Madrid and to Fiorentina in the 21/22 season. With the culmination of the 2021/22 season, he is back with the club and the Gunners are trying to offload the player permanently.
The 26-year-old’s loan deal with Fiorentina also had an option to make the transfer permanent. The Gunners were hoping that the Italian club would trigger the purchase clause before the 2022-23 season. However, La Viola chose not to make the transfer permanent as they failed to agree on agent fees.
With Arteta finding the player surplus to his requirements, the North London side are now looking for different options for the defensive midfielder. Reports from Italy suggest Lazio have emerged as a possible suitor, with manager Maurizio Sarri wanting to add some depth in midfield.
According to Corriere dello Sport (via Mirror), Lazio are interested in signing Lucas Torreira this summer. The Rome-based club are keeping tabs on the player as he is one of the many options on their list to reinforce their midfield. Sarri views him as someone who would add some toughness in the middle of the park.
The Biancocelesti have been linked with the Uruguayan midfielder for a long time now. The club were in line to sign him last season, even when Simone Inzaghi was at the helm. The Serie A club are hoping to secure a loan transfer but the Gunners want a permanent deal.
🇺🇾 Lazio boss Mauricio Sarri wants to bring Lucas Torreira to Rome, after Fiorentina failed to trigger the £12.5m release clause in Torreira's contract.
Torreira has one year to go on his deal at Arsenal.
[@SunArsenal] pic.twitter.com/ndzh0qnWBe
— AFCnewsroom (@TheAFCnewsroom) June 3, 2022
Lucas Torreira impressed under Vincenzo Italiano during his loan time with Fiorentina. He made 31 league appearances last season, with 26 starts, and had five goals and one assist (stats via transfermarkt) to his name. They even wanted to exercise the £12.5million buy option to keep the midfielder at Florence for long-term.
However, a dispute over ‘commissions’ between the player’s camp and the club led them to not pursue the deal. The 26-year-old has no qualms about joining them permanently, after all the Serie A club helped revive his career. Fiorentina still have time on their hands but the issue regarding the agent fees has complicated the transfer.
Fiorentina president Commisso on Torreira deal collapsed: “His agent won’t win against me. I think there’s a chance to re-negotiate the deal in the coming days but can’t say if I’m optimistic or not”. 🇺🇾 #AFC
€15m buy option in the loan deal with Arsenal was not triggered.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 24, 2022
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It is clear that Torreira has no future at the North London club. With his contract set to expire in 2023, Arsenal want a permanent transfer to cash in on him and avoid losing him for free next season.
The Gunners even tried to use him during their negotiations with Fiorentina last January for Dusan Vlahovic. The Premier League club were prepared to give up the buy option included in the loan deal, but the striker chose to stay in Italy with Juventus as his next club.
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