Club Chief Confirms South American Star Has Joined Arsenal In £26.3m Deal

The summer transfer window is open and managers are working hard on their transfer targets so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Sampdoria confirm Lucas Torreira’s move to Arsenal…

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signing of Lucas Torreira after Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero confirmed the midfielder has been sold for £26.3m, according to Football London.

Unai Emery has been on the look out for a new central midfielder this summer as Santi Cazorla has left to join Villarreal while Jack Wilshere confirmed last night that he’ll also leave when his contract expires at the end of the month following 17 years at the club.

Our new boss is wanting to sign a proper defensive midfielder as Granit Xhaka is more of a deep lying playmaker and he offers very little protection to the back four so we desperately need someone to do the defensive work in the holding role next season.

Torreira has emerged as a prime target in recent weeks and the Mirror reported over the weekend that the Uruguayan international was due to undergo his medical this week after Arsenal had agreed a deal worth around £26m and settled on terms over a five-year contract.

It appears those reports were accurate as Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has now confirmed on Italian TV that Torreira has ‘left for €30m’ – which works out at £26.3m – so it seems all that’s left is to announce the transfer.

When discussing Sampdoria’s transfer policy, Ferrero is quoted by Football London as saying:

“Sampdoria do not sell unless there are excellent offers. We do not look for buyers. We have natural talents whose values increase exponentially.

“Generally, we do not make changes. Sampdoria is a stepping stone. It’s a family-run club and that allows players to grow up. It’s normal they have aspirations to play for big clubs, but I do not need to sell out.”

“Torreira has left for €30million. I bought him from Pescara when no one believed. We bet and we won, paying just €3million. The money that comes in is used to keep the club going.”

Torreira is currently away with the Uruguay squad at the World Cup so Arsenal may decide to wait until after he returns from the tournament before making an official announcement over the deal.

The South American is only 5ft 6in but he’s known for his tenacity and work ethic in midfield so he’ll certainly make up for his lack of height in other departments and I think he’ll be a great addition to the squad.

READ–> Photos – Arsenal confirm second signing of the summer

Torreira is set to become our third major signing of the summer after Stephan Lichtsteiner arrived on a free transfer from Juventus while we confirmed last night that Bernd Leno has joined from Bayer Leverkusen.