Arsenal

Arsenal ready £22.3m offer for centre-back

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Arsenal are ready to make an offer of £22.3million for Torino centre-back Armando Izzo, according to Gianluca Di Marzio

They’re not going to have it their own way though, with Premier League rivals Everton also set to bid the same amount for the 27-year-old.

Meanwhile, Torino are hoping to convince the defender to sign a new contract and don’t want to sell.

Good move for Arsenal?

They need new defenders. Time and again the Arsenal defence was exposed last season and they conceded 12 more than any side above them in the top four, and almost 30 more than Liverpool in second. Laurent Koscielny is 33 and slowing down, Shkodran Mustafi had an awful season and desperately needs upgrading. Of the recognised centre-backs, only Sokratis had a good season and he looked a liability at times, missing three games through suspension. Izzo made 2.1 tackles per game and 2.4 interceptions [WhoScored] – more than any of the three Arsenal centre-backs – although his passing isn’t as assured. The 27-year-old has caught the eye of Roberto Mancini, who gave him his full Italy debut in March this year. And a Mirror report has claimed that Arsenal manager Emery is a big fan of the 27-year-old, who scored four goals across 37 Serie A games last season, helping Torino to seventh in the league.

TIF Rating: 8/10

Likely to happen?

Everton are also interested and, while it seems odd to say, they’ve got more money to spend than Arsenal. The £22million is more than half of Unai Emery’s entire summer budget, so he could be tough to land. Add to that, Torino don’t want to sell and will try to get him to sign a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2022. Arsenal aren’t the pull they once were but they’re still a big name in the Premier League. Emery will have to hope that’s enough.

TIF Rating: 5/10

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