Arsenal have jumped to the front of the queue to sign Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira, reports The Daily Mail.
Torreira emerged as one of the brightest prospects in Serie A last season and has since been linked with a move to Juventus.
The Old Lady are currently in the process of signing Emre Can on a free from Liverpool, while also expressing an interest in Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are currently in talks with Sampdoria over the Uruguay international, who has a reported £22m release clause in his existing deal.
Unai Emery’ side have already wrapped up deals for Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sokratis, although an announcement for the latter is not expected until next season.
The new Arsenal boss is working with a restricted transfer budget this summer and the Gunners will need to restructure the payments for Torreira, which will hold up a potential deal.
Only Jorginho (173) won possession in the middle third more times than the 22-year-old (167) in Serie A last season.
