Arsenal are ready to make an ambitious effort to sign Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez and readying a cash-plus-player offer involving Hector Bellerin.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal are prepared to make a sizeable offer to Inter Milan for star striker Lautaro Martinez. The Premier League club are willing to include right-back Hector Bellerin plus cash for the Argentine forward.
Arsenal are in the news again with regards to their striker search. They have now turned their attention to 23-year-old Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez as an alternative to Tammy Abraham. The Gunners were eyeing the Chelsea man for quite some time. Abraham is valued at £40 million, while Arsenal only want an initial loan deal.
Chelsea want to sell Abraham and raise funds for their ambitious move for Erling Haaland. However, Arsenal are ready to focus their attempts over Martinez and make him part of Mikel Arteta’s rebuild this summer. At 23 years of age, the Argentine would have a long-term future at the Emirates and fits the profile of players the club needs.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are operating on a budget, which has seemed high for their usual standards after striking three deals worth £78 million so far. They are also planning to sign a playmaker, a right-back, a goalkeeper and a central midfielder before the window closes alongside a striker.
The Gunners have a few players within their squad who they want to sell. Having already shipped Matteo Guendouzi, some fringe stars such as Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock could be next in line. Additionally, the club will listen to offers for Alexandre Lacazette, valued at £15 million.
The North London side are aware of Inter’s financial turmoil, which saw them sell right-back Achraf Hakimi in a £60 million deal to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer. However, the Italian side could sell one or two more of their star names to balance their books, and Martinez could be among them.
Additionally, Inter are also looking at a replacement right-back for Hakimi. They have registered interest in Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, valued at £30 million. The Gunners want to propose a cash plus player deal involving Bellerin for Martinez.
Inter’s reported valuations of Martinez stands at £75 million; a figure Arsenal are unwilling to pay. However, they are ready to structure a deal majorly involving cash in addition to Bellerin. The Serie A champions could be tempted by such an offer, although how much money Inter would demand remains unknown.
Martinez was a star performer alongside Romelu Lukaku in attack as Inter took Serie A by storm. However, since their title triumph, manager Antonio Conte has left the club alongside Hakimi. Inter have financial difficulties and are actively looking to generate funds through player sales.
As for Arsenal, if they sign Martinez, it certainly will be a real statement of intent heading into the new season. Having scored fewer goals last term, the Gunners finished in 8th place and will be without European football for the first time in 25 years, and a Champions League berth remains their season’s ultimate target this term.
