Arsenal have apparently made Juventus attacker Federico Chiesa their top transfer target for the summer window.
The Italy international is one of several players being tipped to leave the Bianconeri in the wake of their 15-point Serie A deduction for alleged false accounting and financial irregularities.
Chiesa has only just battled back from a devastating cruciate ligament rupture, but speculation surrounding his future is beginning to heat up amid Juve's volatile situation.
Liverpool and Manchester United are both understood to be interested in the 25-year-old, whose contract with Massimiliano Allegri's side runs until the summer of 2025.
However, Calciomercato claims that Juve will likely be pressured into a sale should they fail to qualify for the Champions League, and Arsenal have now joined the race.
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The report states that the former Fiorentina man is hugely admired by Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners will face stiff competition from their Premier League rivals for his services.
Chiesa initially joined Juventus on a two-year loan from Fiorentina, during which time he also starred for Italy as the Azzurri won Euro 2020, beating England on penalties in the final.
The attacker has amassed 19 goals and 16 assists in 69 games for the Bianconeri in all tournaments since his arrival, but he has played just eight times this term due to injury.
Arsenal boss Arteta prioritised a new face in the final third this month following injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson, the former of whom is expected to spend a total of at least three months out with a knee injury.
As a result, Arsenal swooped for Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion, paying an initial £21m which could rise to £26m with performance-related add-ons.
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Trossard has joined as a backup to Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, as Arsenal work to tie the 21-year-old's down to new long-term deals in the coming months.
Both Martinelli and Saka are out of contract in the summer of 2024, but there is optimism that agreements can be struck with the two attackers as negotiations continue.
However, should Martinelli and/or Saka fail to pen fresh terms, Arsenal could ramp up their pursuit of Chiesa alongside their efforts to make a big-money midfield signing.
West Ham United's Declan Rice is understood to be at the top of the Gunners' engine room shortlist, while a move for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi has also been mooted.
Arteta has also admitted that he hopes to bring a new midfielder in during the final few days of the January transfer window, amid fears that Mohamed Elneny could miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Ben Knapton
