Fabian Ruiz has given Arsenal some major encouragement to complete a transfer for the Napoli star this summer.
The midfielder is high on the wish list at the Emirates where Mikel Arteta is dedicated to bolstering his squad.
A striker remains the top priority having missed out on Dusan Vlahovic in the January transfer window.
And while the decision to let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave for Barcelona appears to have been vindicated, it has left the Gunners short up front.
But in midfield, there are similar issues - where Arteta only has the services of a selected few.
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Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are firmly first-choice while Martin Odegaard is seen as a more advanced player in the No.10 role.
It leaves Arsenal ’s back-up options as Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is largely inexperienced, and Mohamed Elneny, who might not have the required level to take the club to the next level.
It makes signing a midfielder an important task to complete in the summer and Napoli ace Ruiz has been the top target.
Arsenal believe they have a great chance of making a move for the Spain international, whose contract expires at the end of next season.
According to Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Ruiz wants a return to his homeland.
But Arsenal are the only club that would make him think any different, in a huge boost to the ambitions in north London, while fellow Premier League transfer rivals Newcastle have been snubbed.
Napoli still retain hopes of renewing the 25-year-old’s contract before the summer transfer window begins.
But if that is not possible, the Serie A outfit will have to ponder whether or not to sell or risk losing the midfielder for nothing at the end of the season.
That would be a detrimental blow to Napoli, who rely a lot on player sales to balance their books while Ruiz is one of the most highly valued stars.
Corriere dello Sport go on to state that Arsenal offered the Neapolitans £42million for the Spaniard’s services but it was turned down.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners would make another bid totalling this amount, considering Napoli might be in a more desperate situation.
Arsenal face Leicester today in the Premier League where they sit fifth in the table.
However, there is real hope that they can finish in the top four this season - a position they have not claimed since 2016 - as they sit two points behind Manchester United and have four games in hand over their old rivals.
