Arsenal chief Edu has plan to solve Martin Odegaard transfer problem with Lucas Torreira
Transfer news: Who could be on the move this summer?
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Arsenal director Edu will look to benefit from Lazio’s interest in Lucas Torreira by pushing to include Joaquin Correa in a swap deal for the Uruguayan midfielder, according to reports. The Gunners look set to lose Torreira this summer, with the 25-year-old never really settling in at the Emirates Stadium since joining the club in 2018.
He spent the entirety of last season on loan with Atletico Madrid, making 26 appearances in all competitions for the newly-crowned La Liga champions.
Torreira is set to return to London ahead of the new campaign, but is not expected to stay for too long amid the ongoing speculation regarding his immediate future.
Arsenal are reportedly looking to raise transfer funds through player sales this summer, and the midfielder appears to be one of several Gunners on the chopping block.
It seems as though his final contribution could be to help seal a permanent replacement for Martin Odegaard by moving the other way in a deal for Lazio playmaker Correa, according to Sky Sport Italia.
It is claimed that Arsenal are keen on a move for the 26-year-old, who is equally as comfortable when deployed out wide as he is in the No 10 role.
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However, the report also states that the 13-time English champions have only launched enquiries at this stage, with any formal offers yet to be tabled.
Arsenal have been on the lookout for a creative outlet since Odegaard’s departure at the end of his loan spell last month.
The Real Madrid man was quickly identified as a priority target by Edu and Mikel Arteta, who have been exploring their options with regards to a permanent move for his services.
However, the likelihood of a summer switch appears to have been dashed by Carlo Ancelotti’s return to the Bernabeu, with the 62-year-old eager to give Odegaard an opportunity to prove himself in the Spanish capital.
Arsenal have been pursuing other targets as a result, with Edu coming particularly close to the signing of Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City before the player ultimately decided to join Aston Villa.
The Gunners are now said to have their sights set on Correa and will aim to haggle him into any deal that sees Torreira join Lazio.
He played 38 matches in all competitions for the Rome club this season, chipping in with 11 goals and another six assists to earn a place in the Argentina squad for this year’s Copa America in Brazil.
Correa will not be Arsenal’s only target this summer, with Arteta planning a large-scale overhaul of the playing squad in order to build on this season’s eighth-placed Premier League finish.
The Spaniard previously spoke of his desire to lead a fruitful transfer window over the coming weeks and months, but stressed that any signings will need to be compatible with his vision for the club.
“We don’t know yet because we have so many things to do,” Arteta told reporters in March when quizzed on his plans for the summer.
“We have people on loan, people finishing contracts. There has been a lot going on in the last two transfer windows, the amount of things that had to be done was probably unprecedented and it will be again in the summer.
“We are trying to put a plan together to see the resources that we have, how much we want to improve, how we’re going to do it and at what cost. There are so many factors, it’s not just about one thing or an [financial] amount.
“It’s about the project and, timewise, how to build it is going to take some effort from everybody and we know that. The challenging moments that we are facing at the moment is making it even harder.”
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