South American Star To Undergo Medical After Arsenal Seal Deal To Sign 22-Year-Old

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, the latest on Arsenal’s pursuit of Lucas Torreira….

Lucas Torreira is set to undergo his medical after Arsenal finalised a proposed £26m deal with Sampdoria to sign the South American midfielder this summer, according to a Sky Italia journalist via Football London.

New boss Unai Emery has turned his attention to strengthening our midfield options after signing right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner and goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and Torreira has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates in recent weeks.

The Uruguayan international has been one of the best defensive midfielders in Italian football since joining Sampdoria from Pescara in 2015 and he has all the attributes we’ve lacked over the past few years as we’ve had no proper protection in front of the back four.

Granit Xhaka is more of a deep-lying playmaker while Aaron Ramsey is more effective further up the pitch so it came as no surprise to hear Emery is in the market for a specialist defensive midfielder and Torreira appears to be the man he wants.

Sampdoria president Massino Ferrero confirmed last week that a £26m (€30m) deal had been agreed to sell Torreira, sparking speculation that a move to Arsenal was a ‘done deal’.

Ferrero is quoted at saying by Football London:

“Torreira has left for €30million. I bought him from Pescara when no one believed. We bet and we won, paying just €3million.”

The agent of reported target Stanislav Lobotka then ruled out the Celta Vigo midfielder joining Arsenal by claiming that we’ve already signed Torreira to play as our No.6 next season.

When asked about Lobotka joining Arsenal, agent Branislav Jasurek is quoted as saying by Football London:

“Arsenal have bought Torreira to play six, so I do not think it’s going to happen.”

It looks like the deal is now on the verge of completion as Sky Italia journalist Fabriziio Romano has claimed that Torreira is set to undergo his medical after Arsenal ‘completed’ a deal with Sampdoria.

Romano tweeted:

Lucas Torreira will have medicals with Arsenal soon, the deal is completed. And Arsenal will finalize Sokratis Papastathopoulous deal too! ? #transfers #AFC

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 28, 2018

Presumably the medical will take place in Russia as Torreira is still representing Uruguay at the World Cup. They face Portugal in their last-16 clash on Saturday night so the midfielder would be free to complete his switch to Arsenal if the South American’s crash out.

The 22-year-old may not be on the only new arrival over the coming days as Romano also claimed that Arsenal are set to wrap-up a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos.