Arsenal: 8 Emi Buendia alternative transfer targets

Domenico Berardi – Sassuolo

As mad as it sounds, there are actually other players who play for Sassuolo other than Manuel Locatelli. Some of them are pretty darn brilliant, too.

Domenico Berardi is not the quintessential Buendia alternative. The Italian is distinctly one footed, almost solely operating on his favoured left foot as he plays as an inverted winger.

With 17 goals in last season’s Serie A (seven penalties) and eight assists he’s been one of the standout players in the division, earning himself a spot in Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020 side where he’s maintained an excellent run of form in front of goal – he has five goals in his last six international outings.

He’s an interesting profile. Not blessed with electric pace, his (very) heightened technical ability means he is comfortable drifting around the box and operating in tight spaces. As far as a creative source, he excels in all SCA, with an overall average of 4.74 per 90 minutes putting him in the top 94th percentile.

The timing of his movements are particularly enjoyable, with his late third man runs and diagonal entries into the box. Berardi offers a neat blend of linking option and runner in beyond, which make him useful operating in central areas across the forward line.

Playing in the hole his accuracy through the lines make him adept as a No. 10, although being so one-footed the right-sided No. 8 slot wouldn’t really suit, yet such excellent ball control and vision make him a threat even with bodies in front.

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old is in exceptional form and his flair do make him effective anywhere beyond the halfway line. Might not come too cheap but he’s tipped to be star at the Euros which could easily sky-rocket his price.