Arsenal are close to completing a £26million deal for Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira, according to reports.
The BBC’s man-in-the-know, David Ornstein, Tweeted about the impending deal on Tuesday.
As widely reported Arsenal in talks to sign Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira. No agreement but central midfield a priority & 22yo Uruguay int’l seen as ideal fit technically + financially. #AFC also want a GK after defensive signings of Lichtsteiner & Sokratis (announced July)
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) June 12, 2018
The 22-year-old Torreira, currently part of Uruguay’s squad for the World Cup, was one of the best defensive midfielders in Serie A last season, ranking third for tackles in the division.
Arsenal have been crying out for a busy, combative midfielder for years now, and at £26million, the diminutive Torreira would fit the Gunners’ budget.
With Stephan Lichsteiner already signed on a free from Juventus, and Dortmund centre-half Sokratis Papastathopoulos joining in July by all accounts, it’s clear that Unai Emery and his team are focusing on strengthening the defensive side of the Gunners’ side, an area which has seriously let them down in recent seasons.
A new goalkeeper is also apparently on Emery’s shopping list, in what could be a very decent summer for Arsenal in the transfer market.