Arsenal in line to make two midfield transfer sales

The January transfer window might as well already be open, such is the quantity of speculation surrounding Arsenal both in terms of new arrivals and outgoings.

Centre-forward has received its fair share of time in the spotlight with Eddie Nketiah expressing his desire to leave Arsenal despite Mikel Arteta’s preference for him to stay, while Alexandre Lacazette has the chance to stay on beyond his current deal should he accept reduced terms and a short length of contract.

Along with midfield it is the area highest up on the priority list heading into the upcoming two transfer windows, although it is in the centre of the pitch where the rumours have coughed up a few talking points.

Someone supporters will have been forgiven for forgetting exists is Lucas Torreira, whose last appearance for Arsenal came way back on July 26, 2020, against Watford on the final day of the Premier League season.

Arsenal in line to make two midfield transfer sales as Mikel Arteta continues reshaping his squad with the January window closing in

Now over at Fiorentina after a title-winning stint with Atletico Madrid, the midfielder is having a far more productive spell than he had done in La Liga.

Brought in on a season-long loan deal that included an option to buy for around £12m, the Uruguayan has gone on to start seven league matches for I Viola, including each of the previous four Serie A outings.

He’s established himself as a key member of Vincenzo Italiano’s side, who has used Torreira as the deepest of his three midfielders in a 4-3-3. No signs of No. 10 activity anywhere.

As per Calcio Mercato, such has been the 25-year-old’s impression that talk has already begun between Torreira’s agent, Pablo Bentancur, and Fiorentina about activating the purchase option in his contract at the end of the season. It’s said that a prolonged spell in Florence is ‘very likely’, such is the ‘mutual satisfaction’.

Having agreed to let him leave on loan without the purchase agreement being obligatory, it will be a welcome relief to Arsenal who will not want to have to go through the torment of finding another buyer for Torreira again next summer, especially with him only having a year left on his deal by that time.

Of course, none of this is set in stone. Nobody is counting their chickens just yet.

At this present time there may be talks ongoing over how pleased the club are with their loan arrival and that he is on the right track, but nothing is certain at this stage and both form and finances can change. Nonetheless, it’s still hugely positive that he’s finally earning regular minutes, those he was starved of in Madrid.

As for January, well, there could be an even sooner departure.

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