Roggi Confirms Arsenal’s Interest In €20m-Rated Italian

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today,  Arsenal’s interest in Mattia Perin is confirmed by his agent.

The agent of Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin has confirmed Arsenal are one of the clubs who’ve sent scouts to watch the talented young goalkeeper this season but he has denied any firm contact has been made over a potential move, according to Sky Sports News.

Perin is currently on loan at newly promoted Pescara where he has been putting in some eye-catching displays in between the sticks. His impressive form has seen him break into the senior Italian national team set up and he made his debut in August last year.

It seems Perin’s form has also attracted interest from top clubs throughout Europe with Sky Sports suggesting the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan are interested in the 20-year-old, who’s reported to be valued at €20million (£17.4m) by Genoa.

The players agent, Matteo Roggi, has now confirmed that Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the keeper and claims we have sent representatives to run-the-rule over him on several occasions already this season, but insists no firm contact has been made over a potential move to north London.

“We have not had direct contact with any club but I know that Arsenal sent their observers several times to follow him closely and that there are many other clubs interested.” Roggi is quoted as saying by Sky Sports

However, it seems despite the increasing interest, Perin will return to Genoa in the summer with his agent suggesting he’ll be at the Serie A outfit next season. He continued:

“The certainty is that at the end of this season Mattia will return to Genoa, with whom he recently extended his contract until 2017. And I think that next year Perin will wear the Rossoblu shirt.”

A new goalkeeper is certainly required in the summer and this has been highlighted by Arsene Wenger’s decision to ‘rest’ Wojciech Szczesny for Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. We now have to play the unreliable Lukasz Fabianski – who hasn’t played a first team game in over a year – which is hardly the ideal situation to be in for such an occasion.

If Arsene Wenger does buy a goalkeeper in the summer, I hope he goes for someone more experienced than this Perin lad. He’s only 20, which is younger than Szczesny, and ideally we need an older head to come in to help Chesser, not another up-and-comer.

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I still see the young Pole as our long-term No.1, we just need an experienced stopper to push him for the first team jersey for a few years, so I don’t see Perin as the man for the job. Especially if we have to pay the £17.4m that Sky Sports think Genoa want for him!

Do you think Arsenal need a new keeper? If so, who would you like to see come in? Get involved in the comments section below.