Serie A side Monza are edging closer to a deal for out-of-favour Arsenal centre-back Pablo Mari, according to a report.
The Spaniard fell down the pecking order last term following the arrival of Ben White and now also finds himself behind William Saliba following his loan return from Marseille.
Mari has been involved in Arsenal's pre-season but does not appear to have a future at the club under Mikel Arteta, and he only has two years left to run on his Emirates contract.
Udinese swooped to sign Mari on loan for the second half of the 2021-22 campaign, during which he became a key player and scored two goals in 15 Serie A appearances.
However, a permanent switch to Le Zebrette failed to materialise for Mari, who is also believed to have been in discussions with Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce over a summer move.
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Now, the Daily Mail claims that newly-promoted Serie A side Monza are on the verge of completing a deal for Mari, which would be a loan with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met.
The report adds that the 28-year-old will join the club - owned by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi - permanently if they manage to avoid relegation to Serie B this season.
Mari has allegedly turned down the chance to work under former Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus again at Fenerbahce, but Udinese and Hellas Verona are waiting in the wings if a move to Monza falls through.
The White and Reds are supposedly hopeful of wrapping up a deal for the centre-back before the end of the week, and he previously stated that he would be keen to stay in the Italian top flight.
"When I arrived in January, I had a clear and precise idea. I told the coach and [owner] Gino Pozzo that I was coming to play. But I realized that I had to earn the job day after day, workout after workout. [Head coach] Cioffi was the first who welcomed me, well, here," Mari told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
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"It's the right league for me. Very tactical. I try to bring the attacker towards me. I really like having the ball and here it can be done and then there is the battle and I like having a battle on the pitch. I would like to stay in Italy.
"Of course, I still have a two-year contract with Arsenal. I've resumed playing continuously after the operation on my left ankle where I was out for five months."
Since arriving from Flamengo in January 2020 - initially on loan - Mari has scored one goal in 22 games for Arsenal and collected an FA Cup winners' medal in the 2019-20 season.
The Spaniard made just three appearances in the first half of the 2021-22 season, playing the full 90 in Arsenal's opening defeats to Brentford and Chelsea in the Premier League.
Arsenal are now expected to focus on outgoings for the remainder of the window and confirmed the sale of Bernd Leno to Fulham for an initial £3m on Tuesday night.
Ben Knapton
