As per a report from Italian outlet Premium Sport, Arsenal have made contact with Juventus over stopper Medhi Benatia.
Reliable presence
Benatia, a 31-year-old central defender, has been on the books of Juve since 2016, with his initial one-year loan deal from Bayern Munich having been made permanent by the Bianconeri for 17 million Euro last summer.
After sitting behind the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli in the central defensive pecking order in Turin during his debut season with Juve, Benatia stepped up in a major way this past season following Bonucci’s departure for AC Milan.
The Moroccan international, who captained his country at this summer’s World Cup, established himself as Max Allegri’s clear first-choice option to partner Giorgio Chiellini at the heart of the Old Lady’s backline, with Benatia having returned to his superb best in the process, playing a crucial role in the club’s domestic double and run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.