Arsenal are reportedly set to lock horns with Liverpool in a bid to sign Torino striker Andrea Belotti as Arsene Wenger is looking to add depth to his attacking options.
According to Geoff Sweet of the Sun, Torino attacker Andrea Belotti is being eyed by Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool. The report states that the player could be available for around £12.5 million.
Arsenal boss Arsenal Wenger has already shown interest in the forward, who moved to Turin only a year ago from Palermo in the summer of 2015. Since then, the 22-year-old has gone on to net 16 goals in 39 appearances for his current Serie A employers, four of which have come this season.
As per OptaPaolo, the young Italian has got off to a flyer this season, averaging two goals per game in his first two matches of the season. However, a hamstring injury curtailed his progress as he is now seemingly set for an extend spell on the sidelines.
4 – Andrea Belotti has netted 4 goals in the first 2 Serie A games of the season – no player has scored more since 2005/06. Burning.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) September 3, 2016
The Arsenal manager has already brought in a striker in Lucas Perez this summer. While he is not expected to start ahead of Olivier Giroud under normal circumstances, his versatility may see Wenger make tweaks to his formation to accommodate his new signing.
Danny Welbeck too, is an out-and-out striker who on his day can wreak havoc in the opposition area. But since his move from Manchester United, the England international has struggled against a number of injury concerns.
Liverpool too may be in the market for a young and upcoming striker, particularly after they offloaded Belgian striker Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace. Manager Jurgen Klopp has been deploying Roberto Firmino as a false nine as he is seemingly unhappy with the showings of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi.
Meanwhile, Belotti has emerged as one of Italy’s in-form forwards, and Liverpool could provide the Gunners with stiff competition, particularly after they sold Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace.
The Italian appears to be finding his place in Serie A after a period of settling in, and 11 of his 12 goals for Torino last season came after December, and he has now scored 15 in the league this year altogether.
He would undoubtedly be a good signing for both sides, but it remains to be seen whether either of them would want to invest in a relatively raw, unproven talent.
