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Arsenal eye move for 23y/o Serie A star as Arteta looks to land 4th summer signing

By mac14 on September 22, 2020

According to Football London, Arsenal have lined-up Roma midfielder Amadou Diawara as an alternative target if we can’t get deals agreed for Thomas Partey or Houssem Aouar.

Mikel Arteta is desperately trying to strengthen his midfield before the window closes next month. Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira are both expected to leave after falling out-of-favour so Arsenal need to bring in at least one replacement.

Partey has been strongly linked but Arsenal have so far refused to meet his £45m release clause while Lyon are reportedly demanding at least that amount for Aouar so we’ve failed to make much headway with either deal.

No doubt Arsenal will continue to pursue both Partey and Aouar until the latter stages of the window but Football London says the club have lined-up alternative options with Diawara named as a target.

The 23-year-old only joined Roma from Napoli last summer but he enjoyed an impressive debut campaign having made 31 appearances in all competitions and it appears he’s caught the eye of Arsenal scouts.

The Express reported last month that Arsenal were eyeing Diawara as a potential signing this summer and suggested that Roma are willing to cash-in on the midfielder if £27m was put on the table.

The Serie A club are seemingly looking to raise money to fund their own transfer plans so they’re ready to sell Diawara and Arsenal could emerge as potential suitors over the coming weeks.

Diawara is a specialist defensive midfielder and we’ve definitely lacked a player who can protect the back four in recent years so he could prove to be an astute signing if Arteta pushes ahead with a move.

A price-tag of £27m would also appeal to the club bosses as finances are tight at the Emirates and Diawara would be a much cheaper alternative to the likes of Partey or Aouar.

I still think Arsenal will do all they can to sign one, or perhaps both, of Partey and Aouar but Diawara would be a solid back-up plan.