Arsenal: One transfer target from each Serie A club

Sassuolo

Serie A aren’t known for their defensive midfielders. Just ask Lucas Torreira. (Okay, that was mean, sorry.) But Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli is an exciting exception to that rule.

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Suiting up primarily as a defensive midfielder, Locatelli fills the pivot role quite well. He’s a great ball carrier, operating with creativity and security when transitioning from defense to attack, and whichever side he falls on at any particular time, he is just as capable as the other. His defensive numbers and play style show an aggressive ball hound who isn’t afraid to make tough tackles and when play does turn around into the attack, he’s good for a couple of chances created per match.

This year, he’s managed four assists from either central of defensive midfield positioning, which is far more than we’ve seen from the counterparts at the Emirates, and while he has a good deal of yellow card accumulation, I don’t think I’m alone in being okay with that. give me aggressive if it means a solid end product, which Locatelli provides.

This is a man who has spent his entire young career in Serie A, so maybe it’s time for him to take it up a level and come over to England. I’d be happy to have him.