Arsenal have set their sights on Andrea Belotti, as a direct replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, who is set to leave the club next summer.
A recent report from Fichajes has offered some light on Arsenal’s attacking department. It appears the Gunners are prepared for the sale of Alexandre Lacazette next summer, with the forward’s contract expiring at the end of the season. It has left the club scouring the market for a potential replacement, with Andrea Belotti emerging as a target.
The 27-year-old Torino forward is expected to leave the club next summer as well, as he is ready for a new challenge. He will be available for free as well, given the fact that his contract also expires at the end of the season. It has put Arsenal on red alert, with the Premier League giants eyeing a Bosman move for the Italian striker.
Formerly of Palermo, Belotti is a widely respected figure at Torino due to his years of service since joining the club in 2015. In six years, the Italian has made 231 competitive appearances for Il Toro, netting 106 goals while bagging 28 assists. He is also closing in on 100 goals in Serie A alone, having scored six times during his previous stint in Palermo.
In addition to his success in Serie A, the 27-year-old has also been capped 39 times for the Italian national side, scoring 12 goals. He was notably a part of the Azurri squad that lifted the UEFA Euro 2020 title in the summer, even though he played second fiddle to the mercurial Ciro Immobile.
At the Emirates, Belotti is set to serve as a direct replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, who was recently offered to AC Milan for the upcoming January transfer window. It appears Mikel Arteta is keen on using his sale to garner a financial boost, one that could go a long way in helping them fund moves for several major targets.
Raheem Sterling, for one, is being linked with a move to the Emirates next summer. The Manchester City winger is having a hard time at the Etihad, and his potential addition to the Arsenal camp, alongside Belotti, could certainly spice up the club’s offensive unit that currently appears far too reliant on young players.
The experience of these two individuals could, thus, become useful, providing Arsenal with an ideal mix of youth and experience that will combine to help the club restore its former glory.