Arsenal are reportedly among a host of top sides keeping an eye on Juventus winger Federico Chiesa. The 26-year-old could be attainable in the January transfer window due to Juve’s need to raise transfer funds, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is likely to be on high alert.
Chiesa has been a big name on the European stage since developing an eye for goal at Fiorentina. The Italian international is now into his fourth season at Juve and on course for the best goal-scoring Serie A season of his career.
His efforts to rack up more than the 10 goals he managed in 2019/20 may ultimately be cut short, however, amid a wave of Premier League interest. Tuttojuve report that Arsenal are joined by Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle United in keeping tabs on the wide man.
Juventus are in desperate need of a costly midfield revamp, with Nicolo Fagioli currently serving a seven-month ban and Paul Pogba facing an even longer suspension.
Selling Chiesa would be the quickest way for the Turin giants to line their pockets, and it is believed that they would be willing to do business if the Gunners or any other interested party lodges a bid of £69million.
Arsenal would likely face stiff competition for the Fiorentina academy graduate if they act on their interest in January. Liverpool’s Klopp is a huge admirer, according to reports in Italy, and he could attempt to spoil the party by proposing a move to Anfield.
While Chiesa is a specialist on the wing, the Gunners are rumoured to interested in recruiting a striker this winter. In Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, manager Mikel Arteta has two talented options, although they have proven unable to match the numbers put up by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland or Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Arteta recently stoked the flames of speculation by claiming that the traditional No 9 is ‘coming back’, adding: “There are a few players when you look at Harry Kane, Halaand, Ivan Toney, [Aleksandar] Mitrovic. You have examples of players who score a lot of goals.”
However, he made sure not to concern Jesus and Nketiah by insisting – publicly at least – that Arsenal have no intention of revamping the forward line in January.
“We’re not thinking at all about that,” he said. “We have really good players up front. It’s true that right now we have some injuries. We will continue with the players we have.”
