Arsenal launch audacious Lautaro Martinez transfer move

Just when you thought Arsenal had been linked with every player in Europe this summer, we get a surprise development. The club might have only completed 15% of their business this window but they’ve been linked with 99% of the market.

What next? With the four well-known positions left to fill, the emergence of Tammy Abraham‘s name brought upon the fresh ideas for what could occur this window. Centre-forward was not a position felt to require an overhaul.

Talk of genuine interest in the Chelsea striker will remain as such until Arsenal can offload Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah. Should those two be sold then there are only two recognised strikers in the squad, one of whom is coming back off a disappointing campaign while the other has yet to taste a single minute of Premier League football.

In such an instance, Mikel Arteta may feel the need for experience in his side. When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang jets off to AFCON he will only have Gabriel Martinelli and Balogun to choose from, which in a pivotal season like the one coming up may force him to rethink.

Arsenal launch audacious Lautaro Martinez transfer move at Inter with Edu and Mikel Arteta making inquiry for Serie A striker

Equally, Aubameyang is entering the twilight of his career and should he have another season like the one previously, it may be time to sell him in the coming summer as opposed to letting him play out the final year of his deal.

Who could come in? Well, fresh off the speculative rumour mill is Lautaro Martinez. Yes, that Lautaro Martinez, one of the best strikers on the continent who has just won Serie A with Inter and Copa America with Argentina. That Lautaro Martinez.

He isn’t all too shabby.

As per The Telegraph, Arsenal made an inquiry for the striker. Edu is continuing to aim high this summer, making efforts to drastically improve the squad in a bid to secure a top four spot next season and return to the Champions League.

Have they actually got in contact with Inter over Martinez? You know what, they probably have. What else, they probably know they have absolutely zero chance of signing him and the basis of this move will be similar to what we saw earlier this window with Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez.

Feelers were put out for the pair, not so much with the intention of actually signing them, but instead to see what amount of ‘pull’ Arsenal have in the footballing world in their current predicament. It’s effectively market research.

So what is the situation around Martinez at Inter, would he be a good fit and, well, does it even matter?

Continued…

Lautaro Martinez is Never Joining Arsenal – But it Would be Nice

The situation surrounding Martinez is that he has two years left to run on his contract, which is the classic transfer market grey zone. Either you sell while the iron is hot or you get the player tied down to a new deal. Doing nothing in this instance is the worst outcome.

Inter unsurprisingly would prefer him to sign a new deal at San Siro as Simeone Inzaghi aims to defend the Serie A title his predecessor, Antonio Conte, helped secure.

In terms of age, Martinez is 23 years old which fits perfectly into the spectrum Arsenal are aiming for. In terms of ability, he’s also pretty darn talented.

17 goals in ten assists in 38 Serie A games last season were a key component in Inter’s surge to Italian superiority, where the Argentinian has formed a deadly strike partnership with Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian’s powerful runs complement the dynamic with Martinez, who likes to drop off in between the lines and use creative instinct to feed runners beyond. In and around the box he has a devastating array of shooting techniques, constantly changing his style aided by solid two-footedness.

His defensive output in the final third is also superb, courtesy of a superb work-rate and engine. He’s 98th percentile for interceptions and 82nd for pressures compared to forwards across Europe, while he also scores in the 90’s for blocked passes and shots.

Standing at only 5’9″, Martinez is nonetheless strong like a bull and wins a high number of duels and tackles. He uses that strength to dribble aggressively, and his low centre of gravity allows him to duck, dive and change direction at the drop of a hat.

Throw in him being a proven goalscorer and you’ve got yourself an excellent striker. One who will not be playing at Arsenal next season.

Said ‘inquiry’ will have been one of numerous that Edu has made over the course of the window, only that this one has come to light. How long lists of targets are remains a mystery to those outside of the internal meetings. Letting yourself be heard, as it were, is part of the game.

For Arteta and Edu, two people without much experience in their fields, they’re getting a grasp of what Arsenal means to those outside of the club: is Arsenal what Arsenal used to be? Etc.

Whether this ploy is worthwhile or not might never be known, since its ramifications may only ever be disclosed within a close circle.

Beyond actually convincing the player, even if Inter are looking to raise funds, they’ll want a premium. So, as far as Martinez goes, he’s just another name on a list.