Arsenal To Open Formal Talks Today Over Deal For Argentinean Defender

The summer transfer window is now open for business and it’s expected to be a busy few weeks as managers strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news of Arsenal’s interest in Gino Peruzzi.

Arsenal will open formal talks with Catania today over a potential deal for highly-rated full-back Gino Peruzzi, according to reports.

Boss Arsene Wenger appears in the market for another right-back to act as understudy to Mathieu Debuchy and we were strongly linked with a loan move for Atletico Madrid’s Javier Manquillo last week.

However, that deal has since stalled and the Spaniard looks set for a move to Liverpool instead with reports today claiming the Merseysiders have agreed a one-year loan deal with the option to make the move permanent.

It looks like we’ve quickly moved on to other targets and reports in Italy last week suggested we had made contact with Catania to enquire about their highly-rated right-back Gino Peruzzi.

It’s understood Wenger has offered £1m to take the 22-year-old on an initial season-long loan with the option to make the deal permanent next summer if things work out, but Catania would prefer a straight cash deal this summer.

But it appears the two clubs are willing to see if a compromise can be found as the Metro claim that the Italian clubs president has flown over to London and is due to hold face-to-face talks with Arsenal officials today.

Peruzzi has just come off the back of a fine season with Catania but is expected to leave the club after their relegation to Serie B. He’s highly-rated in Italy and has 4 caps for Argentinean under his belt, so he could prove to be a shrewd purchase from Wenger is we can get a deal agreed.

However, the search for a new back-up right-back has cast doubts over Carl Jenkinson’s future at the Emirates and although there has been talk of a permanent move to West Ham, I hope that if he does leave it’s only on a short-term basis.

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Jenkinson isn’t quite ready to be a first team regular just yet but he’s hugely passionate about Arsenal and has the potential to be a top full-back. All he needs is regular action to develop his game so hopefully if we do bring in Peruzzi we can send Jenks out on loan and reassess the situation next summer.