Arsenal’s curiosity in January signings to bolster their flourishing squad isn’t any secret, and a contemporary identify has entered the roaring hearsay mill, in accordance with stories from Italy…
What’s the phrase?
The newest murmurings over Arsenal’s forthcoming switch exercise centre round Nicolo Zaniolo, who has reached a stumbling block in his contract negotiations with AS Roma, leaving Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta poised to pounce.
According to Radio Radio in Italy, by way of Sport Witness, Arsenal have an interest in a deal for the Roma participant with the membership probably set to supply in the area of €25m (£21.8m) amid claims that he received’t sign a brand new deal in the capital.
Arsenal’s own Son
At simply 23 years of age, Zaniolo’s degree of efficiency has not fairly reached its zenith, however with quite a few exemplary shows in Italy over the previous few years, it’s no marvel that the likes of the Gunners wish to forge a deal.
Since signing for the Giallorossi from Inter Milan in 2018 for an preliminary charge of £3.9m, Zaniolo has emerged as certainly one of Italy’s hottest prospects, making a complete of 125 appearances, scoring 24 targets and serving 18 assists.
This season, Zaniolo has performed 14 matches throughout all competitions and scored twice, helping an extra three targets.
His most notable contribution, nonetheless, got here in the Europa Conference League final final season, the place his resounding end proved to be the solitary aim towards Dutch outfit Feyenoord, bringing European success to the distinguished aspect for the primary time in their historical past.
His versatility and fast bursts of tempo supply shades of Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min, with the 30-year-old South Korean phenom standing as certainly one of Europe’s most harmful flankers.
Son, who signed for Spurs for a reported £22m from German outfit Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, has scored 136 targets and supplied 76 assists from 344 outings for the outfit, steadily enhancing and blossoming right into a £61m-rated gem.
Zaniolo, who can play in a bunch of roles for his aspect, together with Son’s favoured large roles, is ranked by FBref throughout the prime 3% for complete photographs and 9% for progressive passes obtained when in comparison with positional friends presently enjoying all through Europe’s prime 5 leagues – a sign of the direct Son-esque menace he might carry to the Emirates Stadium.
Ddubbed a “frightening talent” by journalist Ben Jacobs, he might harness his skills and emerge as Arsenal’s very own model of the Tottenham star, tapping into the expertise embedded throughout the present Gunner crop and refining his scientific capability to devastating impact.
Indeed, the 11-cap Italian has not fairly unlocked the complete circle of his potential, however with increments seemingly made season upon season, he might emulate Son and emerge as a formidable inventive pressure for the opposite north London giants.
