From Italy: Arsenal ready to launch £22m bid to sign 27-year-old star

Managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads during the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal face a battle to sign Armando Izzo…

Arsenal are ready to table a £22m bid to sign Armando Izzo but Torino are determined to hold on to the talented centre-back this summer, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Unai Emery is expected to overhaul his squad over the coming weeks after enduring a disappointing first season in charge at the Emirates that saw Arsenal finish outside the top four and lose to Chelsea in the Europa League final.

Defence is a real area of concern for the Gunners boss as we conceded 70 goals in all competitions last season and an upgrade for Shkodran Mustafi is needed as he’s been a weak link since he arrived from Valencia three years ago.

Laurent Koscielny’s future at the club is also in doubt as he’s got just one year left on his current contract and the Frenchman is being linked with a move this summer after so far failing to sign an extension.

So we need a long-term replacement and Izzo emerged as a potential target last week with TuttoMercatoWeb claiming the players agent, Paolo Palermo, had flown to London to hold talks about a possible move to Arsenal.

Izzo only joined Torino from Genoa last summer but he enjoyed an excellent first season at the club as he helped Walter Mazzarri’s side secure a seventh-placed finish last season while boasting one of the best defensive records in Serie A.

The 27-year-old’s performances have seemingly alerted Arsenal and Gianluca Di Marzio claims Emery is ready to pay £22m [€25m] to sign the Italian international while Everton are also reportedly in the running for Izzo’s signature.

However, a deal won’t be easy as the Sky Sports Italian reporter claims Tornio president Urbano Cairo has informed Izzo’s agent that the defender is not for sale and they want to negotiate a new contract with the centre-back.

READ –> Arsenal transfer news

Izzo’s current contract runs until 2022 so Tornio are under no pressure to cash-in this summer but it remains to be seen whether the defender will sign an extension amid strong interest from the likes of Arsenal.