Arsenal have surged ahead in the race to sign Juventus and Italy midfielder Federico Chiesa, edging out rivals Tottenham.
After securing Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, Arsenal are now setting their sights on another Italian talent, Chiesa.
According to Samuel Bannister of TeamTalk, the Gunners have made an official approach for the winger, who had been previously linked with Tottenham.
Arsenal, under the management of Mikel Arteta, are determined to strengthen their squad following recent successes. The signing of Calafiori highlights their intent to add quality players.
However, bringing in Chiesa would significantly bolster their attacking options. Chiesa, who is in the last year of his contract with Juventus, has drawn interest from several clubs.
Initially, Tottenham appeared to be the frontrunner, but Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League this season gives them a competitive edge. This could be crucial for Chiesa, who is keen to play at the highest level.
Juventus have set a price tag of €25 million for Chiesa, a fee Arsenal seem willing to meet. Chelsea have also expressed interest, but like Tottenham, they cannot offer Champions League football. This situation puts Arsenal in a strong position to secure Chiesa’s signature.
New Juventus coach Thiago Motta does not appear to see Chiesa as a key part of his plans. Motta, who previously coached Calafiori at Bologna, stated, “Federico is still part of Juventus at the moment, then we’ll see,” indicating some uncertainty about Chiesa’s future.
Chiesa, a versatile player who is strong on the left wing but can also play on the right, would provide valuable depth and competition for Arsenal’s current wingers, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
While strengthening the wings may not be Arsenal’s primary focus, it would help reduce their reliance on key players.
Additionally, Arsenal are expected to offload Reiss Nelson soon, and Emile Smith Rowe is heavily linked with a move to Fulham. This potential loss of players underscores the need for reinforcements in the attacking positions.