Arsenal may finally earn cash for loan midfielder

The season Arsenal are having can be defined quite unreservedly as transitional: a shift in style, the formation of a new culture and the moving of numerous players in and out of the club. More have to arrive which means an injection of cash is needed, with Lucas Torreira key.

Serie A this and La Liga that, the volume of clubs interested in Lucas Torreira could have seen him play one game at each side rumoured to want him this season and still have plenty left to spare. His future is getting pretty tiresome.

Well documented are the struggles he’s having at Atletico Madrid, starting just three La Liga matches all season and falling well down the pecking order, understandably, to those who’ve served Diego Simeone well.

He has no future under Mikel Arteta and will be moved on in the summer to free up some funding, with one club finally appearing as if they’ll take him off Arsenal’s hands permanently. Fiorentina have been chasing his signature since last summer, and having missed out once, are hell-bent on not letting him slip through their grasp again.

Fiorentina leading chase for permanent Lucas Torreira deal from Arsenal

La Viola have been regarded as ‘ahead’ of other clubs in talks for the Uruguayan, with the midfielder even giving the green light to make complete the move in the summer. Italian publication Corriere Fiorentino (via Sport Witness) have since confirmed as much, stating that the club have a ‘clear advantage’ in the race for Torreira.

All that could unhinge any deal is Fiorentina not getting their act together and slipping down Serie A, as they currently sit in 14th place with just 25 points from 23 matches. All signs point towards a deal being prepped and ready for the summer.

Given how colossal the rebuild is at Arsenal, every single penny that can be squeezed out of the players allowed to leave must be accrued. Alexandre Lacazette will be moved on but whoever is interested will know they can low-ball an offer for a player Arsenal need to shift due to age and contract length.

Whatever fee is accrued for Torreira won’t match what Arsenal paid. Nobody is paying £26m. Very few even have £26m. But if this is a deal that is set up to happen as soon as the window opens, it’s one less issue to be burdened with in the summer.