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Arsenal transfer news: £25m bid submitted for international star

By mac14 on March 1, 2017

According to Calciomercato, Arsenal have formalised their interest in Italian international centre-back Daniele Rugani after submitting a £25.6m offer for his services.

Rugani was strongly linked with a move to the Emirates last summer but Juventus refused to sell and we eventually splashed out £35m on Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia.

However, despite doubts over his future at the club, it seems Arsene Wenger is still making plans for next season and has maintained his interest in signing the 22-year-old.

Italian outlet Calciomercato claims Wenger wants to lure Rugani to the Emirates this summer and has tested Juve’s resolve with a formal offer for the highly-rated centre-back.

Rugani is considered as one of the best young defenders in Serie A and has already been capped by the senior Italian national team having represented his country at every youth level.

However, it seems Arsenal have their work cut out in trying to prise him away from Turin as Calciomercato claim that Juve have already told us Rugani isn’t for sale and they are determined to keep hold of him this summer.

The youngster isn’t a regular in Max Allegri’s side as he’s made just eight Serie A starts this season but Rugani signed a new contract in December which ties him to the club until 2021 and Juve have made it clear they see him as a future star.

Therefore, a deal looks unlikely but it might be for the best as I question the wisdom in Arsenal splashing out big money on another centre-back this summer now that Per Mertesacker has signed a one-year extension.

Mustafi and Koscielny is our first choice pairing and while I’m no fan of Gabriel’s, Rob Holding is a superb young defender so I’d like to see him given more chance in the first team next term.