Arsenal & Spurs in Lautaro Martinez transfer showdown

This one will sting. For more reasons than one. Indeed, Lautaro Martinez, who Arsenal have been heavily linked with in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, appears to be cinching ever closer to joining Tottenham.

Starting with the likelihood of selling, Romelu Lukaku’s move to Chelsea from Inter was said to signal the end of any hopes Mikel Arteta would have had in securing the Argentine. While the Italian side are heavily reducing their wage bill and raising crucial funds, losing both of their main men up top was reported to be out of the question.

Seemingly not.

With Achraf Hakimi and Lukaku set to raise £160m, the sales aren’t stopping there. Arsenal’s interest in Lautaro felt like an ambitious move to begin with but the developments have only seen the speculation heighten, not die down.

Arsenal and Tottenheam in Lautaro Martinez transfer showdown as Spurs agree fee for Inter striker with Arteta also keen

Given the Serie A champions are now looking to continue their selling (multiple Italian journalists still refute that he will be sold and strongly suggest otherwise) and with Arteta eyeing a striker in the case of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah leaving, they will have to act really fast.

As per The Times’ Gary Jacob, Tottenham have had an offer accepted by Inter to sign the 23-year-old. The deal will be worth in excess of £60m and continues Nuno Espirito Santo’s summer overhaul which includes the £45m capture of Cristian Romero.

Inter value Lautaro at £76.8m so it is assumed that numerous add-ons are included in Spurs’ offer as they seek to bring in a forward who has notched a combined 31 goals and nine assists in Serie A in the past two seasons.

Despite Harry Kane’s interesting situation in north London, it’s stated this move is being eyed with the plan of playing both together.

If Arsenal want Lautaro then they will need to get their act together, even if, as per Dean Jones, there is a ‘big’ personal offer on the table for the Argentina international.

This indicates there are wages and bonuses in discussion with just the fee with Inter left to arrange. If the cash is stumped up, which we’re led to believe Arsenal have, then the offer of wages from the Gunners will surely trump that of Spurs. If there are two deals present then it will come down to the player.

Interesting? Worrying? Or reassuring that this will force Arsenal to pull their finger out and pay up? Whatever one’s perspective, it does appear as if Tottenham have won this race, according to the English reports, anyway. As mentioned, Italian sources deny this.

How wonderfully timed, then, that the two sides are meeting in the Mind Series on Sunday. Anyone would think they’d done it on purpose.