Arsenal will reportedly face a fight to keep Gabriel Martinelli this summer as Juventus prepare to offer a swap deal for the Brazilian striker.
The 20-year-old has emerged as a star for the future under Mikel Arteta after becoming a regular for the Gunners this season. And his performances have not gone unnoticed, with Juventus keen to launch a bid for the highly-rated forward.
Calciomercato report the Italian giants are eyeing a move for the Brazil international to bolster their frontline, with doubts over the future of on-loan duo Alvaro Morata and Moise Kean, while Bianconeri favourite Paulo Dybala is leaving on a free transfer.
Martinelli, who arrived in London for £6million from Ituano in 2019, scored six goals and registered six assists in 29 Premier League games last season, helping Arsenal to finish fifth in the Premier League after narrowly missing out on a top-four finish. And his all-round displays have earned him admirers from all around Europe, including Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Juventus believe that offering Arthur Melo in a swap deal could tempt the Gunners into a deal, as Mikel Arteta previously tried to sign the midfielder in January before talks broke down. The club had concerns over an 18-month loan deal and were interested in an arrangement similar to Martin Odegaard's, who the Gunners later signed on a permanent deal.
The Spaniard is apparently still keen on bringing the 25-year-old to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with recent speculation suggesting they had revived their interest in the Brazilian midfielder. And their chances of clinching a deal this time around could hinge on their response to the Old Lady's offer for Martinelli.
Have Your Say! Should Arsenal consider swapping Martinelli for Arthur? Comment below.
It is understood that Arthur, who joined from Barcelona in a complex swap deal involving Miralem Pjanic, has no future at the Allianz Stadium and would be allowed to leave by Max Allegri. He made only 11 starts in the Serie A this season for the club, highlighting his position in the pecking order under the Italian coach.
However, it does not seem likely that Arsenal would entertain a straight swap for Martinelli, given his importance to the club as a regular starter and his long-term future at the club. The club also recently handed him the No.11 shirt, previously worn by Mesut Ozil, to reflect his status.
His current contract expires in 2024 and the club have been looking at extending his deal, rather than allowing him to leave. The report claims that Arsenal appear to be the only team interested in signing Arthur at present, which somewhat weakens Juventus' hand in negotiations as they tried to offload the central midfielder.
