Premier League leaders Arsenal are ready to test the resolve of Juventus as they seek to bring midfielder Manuel Locatelli to England. Meanwhile, the Gunners are ready to send Albert Sambi Lokongo to the Serie A club in exchange.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal have reignited their interest in Italy international Locatelli after missing out on him in 2021, when he joined Juventus from Sassuolo on an initial loan deal.
It is reported that Mikel Arteta is determined to bolster his midfield options despite the strong form of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, and is looking for a player in the style of Locatelli to complement his squad.
Despite being held in high regard in North London, Arsenal are ready to sacrifice Belgian Sambi Lokonga in order to bring Locatelli in and would push for a straight swap, with both players valued at €30 million.
January approach for Locatelli
Sitting top of the Premier League with seven wins from their opening eight games, Arsenal have enjoyed a magnificent start to the campaign and will look to reinforce after Christmas.
Having seen interest in Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz come to nothing, the Gunners are determined to land Locatelli and will seek to secure a deal in the January transfer window.
Indeed, they had been courting the former AC Milan midfielder for some time and this peaked during his strong performances at Euro 2020, but the 24-year-old opted for Juventus instead.