Arsenal News: Gunners to Launch a Bid for Manuel Locatelli

Arsenal news: The Gunners are interested in signing Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

Locatelli is one of the best Italian midfielders of his generation. He started his professional career with AC Milan before moving to Sassuolo on loan in 2018 and later permanently in 2019.

The 24-year-old midfielders played 99 games in all competitions for the Emilia-Romagna outfit, registering seven goals and 11 assists. His performances at the Mapei Stadium earned him a loan move to Juventus in 2021, with the Turin outfit having an obligation to sign him permanently for €25 million.

He has played 51 games in all competitions for the Bianconeri so far, registering three goals and five assists. Locatelli was among Italy’s star performers when they lifted the UEFA Euro 2020 trophy.

Arsenal news: Manuel Locatelli linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium

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According to Calciomercatoweb (via Transfer News Live), Juventus are set to launch a January bid to sign Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

The Gunners tried to hijack Locatelli’s transfer to the Turin-based outfit in 2021. But they failed in their pursuit as the player was adamant about a move to join the Italian giants.

However, they have reignited their interest in the Italy international and are expected to make another attempt to sign him during the upcoming window. As per the Sun, the Gunners are also exploring the possibility of offering Albert Sambi Lokonga in a straight swap deal for Locatelli.

Signing a new midfielder remains a key priority for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard tried to bring in Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa during the final stages of the summer window but a deal failed to materialise.

The former Manchester City assistant manager is expected to make another attempt to bolster his team’s midfield unit 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. Apart from that, he also registered a passing accuracy of 83.1 in the Italian top division.

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What’s next?

Arsenal have enjoyed an excellent start to the current season, winning seven of their opening eight league games. They are currently at the top of the Premier League table with 21 points from eight games. The Gunners will next go up against FK Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League before facing Liverpool in the league on October 9.

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