Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the progress of Bologna forward Santiago Castro as they add a new name to their shortlist of summer attacking options.
The Gunners' toothlessness in the final third reared its ugly head again on Sunday afternoon, where they were held to a disappointing 1-1 stalemate by Manchester United in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta's side had to rely on a well-struck Declan Rice leveller to steal a point from Old Trafford, as the absences of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz hit them hard in the final third once again.
Arsenal did briefly defy their attacking injury crisis to put seven past PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last week, but they have now found the back of the net just once in their last three top-flight games.
As a result, the title is almost certainly a foregone conclusion with Liverpool 15 points clear at the top of the table, and the Gunners could even be fearing for their top-four place with a couple more poor results.
Arsenal identify 'mini Martinez' as new target?
© Imago
Preparations for an intense summer transfer window have already begun, and the Gunners are now said to have reached an agreement with Andrea Berta to become their new sporting director in place of Edu.
One of the Italian's first points of order will be capturing a new number nine, and he is understood to be a big fan of Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez, whom Arsenal are supposedly preparing to enter preliminary talks for.
However, FootballTransfers now claims that the Gunners are also pursuing a 'mini Martinez' in the shape of Castro, who is earning rave reviews for his exploits in a Bologna jersey.
Arsenal scouts who have been keeping tabs on the 20-year-old this season have apparently been left impressed with Castro's consistency in the final third, as he has conjured up nine goals and eight assists in 37 games this season.
Castro's 17 contributions includes a hat-trick of assists in Bologna's 4-0 win over Monza in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia in December, and his playmaking skills could make him an ideal fit for Arteta, who likes his centre-forwards to drop deep and link play.
How much would Arsenal have to pay for Castro?
© Imago
Castro only arrived at Bologna from Velez Sarsfield midway through the 2023-24 season for £11.1m, and he still has a little over three years left to run on his contract with the Rossoblu.
As a result, Bologna will supposedly demand a fee of between €25m (£21m) and €30m (£25.2m) for the 2004-born youngster, who briefly shared a dressing room with now-Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Calafiori may very well be able to put in a good word for Arsenal in negotiations, although the report adds that Newcastle United, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Inter Milan are also in the mix.
The Gunners also struck a deal to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna in the summer of 2021 and are therefore said to enjoy a 'fruitful relationship' with their Italian counterparts, although the Japan international will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
Ben Knapton
