The future of Mesut Ozil remains up in the air as the Arsenal playmaker continues to be hotly linked with a switch away from the Emirates.
The Gunners are reportedly eager to free up their wage bill, and with the German taking up a huge chunk of it through his astonishing £330,000-a-week salary, boss Unai Emery appears to be keen to let him go.
The 30-year-old has only spent 45 minutes on the pitch since Christmas, while he wasn’t even in the squad for last weekend’s defeat to West Ham.
In terms of players coming over in the other direction, Arsenal have yet to make their presence felt in the January transfer market, although they’ve been hotly linked with a loan move for Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez, along with Yannick Carrasco, and even James Rodriguez.
However, La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira has tweeted that Arsenal have targeted Nicolo Zaniolo, and have seemingly already approached the Roma midfielder’s representative Claudio Vigorelli:
#Arsenal is interested in Nicolò #Zaniolo for the next season. #Emery and Sanllehi have talked with his agent Claudio Vigorelli, but #Roma wants to renew him until 2024.
However, judging from the tweet it appears that Arsenal would have to wait until the summer in order to make a move for the teenager. The 19-year-old is currently under contract until 2023, but could prove to be a viable future replacement for Aaron Ramsey who is expected to leave for Juventus at the end of the season, while the aforementioned Ozil could soon be on his way out.
Zaniolo, 6ft 3in, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Roma, making 16 appearances in all competitions, while Italy boss Roberto Mancini handed him his first international cap.
One of Zaniolo’s former managers, ex-Inter Milan coach Stefano Vecchi, has even likened the player to the legendary Premier League duo of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
“He will go places. He has the characteristics to become a modern mezzala (half-winger) – he’s a Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard-type player,” Vecchi previously told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
But Roma are understandably determined to keep hold of their man – a summer arrival from Inter Milan – who has also attracted interest from Real Madrid.