Arsenal are considering an offer for Torino striker Andrea Belotti after their preference on his next move was clarified, according to reports in Italy.
Belotti has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal for a considerable period of time. They will have to evolve their attack next summer if they lose some of their current forwards.
For example, it seems that Alexandre Lacazette has little desire to extend his contract. As things stand, he will be leaving for nothing at the end of the season. Alternatively, it could even be sold in January.
But that can be a risk for an Arsenal team that also has dilemmas regarding Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun in the winter.
Nketiah, like Lacazette, is nearing the end of her contract and may be looking for a different challenge. Mikel Arteta would be happy for him to stay, but he may not be able to convince him due to lack of playing time.
The fellow Balogun academy graduate is under less contractual pressure, but has less playing time, so he can be borrowed.
The departure of the three would leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gabriel Martinelli as the only center forwards at Arteta’s disposal. Whoever goes, and whenever he does, the center forward position will be obvious for the Gunners to replace.
Belotti is firmly on his radar as a window of opportunity opens to sign him. He is another player whose terms (with Torino) expire in 2022.
The Italian international is the captain of Torino, but this could be his last season with them. It seems that it is unlikely that he will renew his contract. with the club he has represented since 2015.
According to Calciomercato, three clubs are in the running to take him as a free agent before next season.
Arsenal are reportedly rivaling AC Milan and Inter for the forward, who will have turned 28 at the time of the negotiations.
Belotti has preference between threesome
Milan currently has veteran forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud, who are still able to do the business. But another alternative closer to his best years would not be bad.
Inter, meanwhile, are still in the process of replacing Romelu Lukaku since his summer transfer to Chelsea. They signed Edin Dzeko and Joaquín Correa to fill the void, and the former in particular is off to a good start in life at San Siro. But again, it’s in its 30s, so it won’t necessarily be your long-term fix.
Consequently, Belotti has made his way onto the short lists of the three clubs as they plan for the next few years.
Arsenal will be hoping to lure him out of Italy for the first time in his playing career. However, Calciomercato cautions that they would not be your first-choice destination.
Instead, Belotti would be in favor of moving to AC Milan, because he has supported them throughout his life.
But if Milan cannot agree with him, they will have to choose between their biggest rivals or Arsenal.
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