Arsenal have been linked with Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez and according to journalist Dean Jones, the 23-year-old is willing to join the Premier League side this summer.
Martinez was one of the standout players in the Serie A during the 2020-21 season and as per The Athletic, the Arsenal think tank hold him in high regard which is why they are willing to test the waters with this transfer.
And now is a rather shocking admission, Dean Jones has said that Lautaro Martinez is not against the idea of joining the Gunners and the English side are currently the only club interested in him.
He told The Football Terrace: “My initial thought, like most people, was why would Lautaro Martinez, who’s just won Serie A with Inter Milan and is one of the best young forwards in the game, go and join Arsenal right now?
“So I’ve asked that question and basically he wants to come to the Premier League, first of all. And he sees Arsenal, if that’s the club, to be a place where he can grow.
“At the moment, the reason Arsenal are in pole position for him is because they basically have a free run at him. There hasn’t been any other contact with other clubs.”
Can Arsenal bring Lautaro Martinez on board?
The Gunners are ready to sell Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah this summer and if they can bring in someone like Lautaro Martinez then it will be one of the best pieces of transfer business from an English side this summer.
Inter Milan have lost Achraf Hakimi which is why they are not ready to let another superstar player leave right now.
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But their financial troubles are an open secret so if Arsenal can offer the right transfer price for the 23-year-old then they have a really bright chance of striking a deal.
Having said that, Arsenal have already spent £50 million on Ben White and we are not sure just how much budget is left with Mikel Arteta at the moment.
Lautaro Martinez is currently valued at £72 million and has two more years left on his current deal. So an offer in the same region should be enough for the Gunners to secure his services.
If Arsenal cannot land the Inter Milan forward then they are likely to try and sign Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham who is available for around £40 million.
