Arsenal Close In On Chelsea Target With Agent Due In London For Formal Talks

With the January transfer window fast approaching managers are formalising their plans to strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are linked with Chelsea target Mattia Destro.

Arsenal appear to have moved into pole position to sign Chelsea target Mattia Destro with reports claiming that the strikers agent is due to fly in to London to hold talks with the North London club about a potential January move.

Destro has emerged as one of the most sought-after strikers in the Serie A and his potential has seen him linked with a whole host of clubs throughout Europe in recent months, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all understood to be keen on luring him to England.

However, it looks like the Gunners are now leading their rivals in the race to sign the 23-year-old as the Daily Star are reporting that the players agent will fly over to London in the next 48 hours to hold formal talks with Arsene Wenger about a move this winter.

It remains to be seen whether a deal can be agreed with Roma but Destro himself recently admitted he was flattered to be linked with Arsenal, but insists he still has it all to prove at the highest level.

When quizzed about links with Arsenal last month, Destro told reporters:

“They are wonderful rumours, I’m very pleased because it means that I’ve taken the right path [in my career].

“There are so many things that I can improve on.

“I must never stop and continue to learn new things.​

“The Coach encourages me a lot, and I try to show my skills on the pitch, as well as the confidence he has in me.

The Italian international has been earning rave reviews for his performances for Roma over the past 18 months and he looks to have a bright future ahead of him, but I’d be surprised if he was to make any move to the Premier League in January.

Roma are still fighting it out with Juventus for the title this season with Rudi Garcia’s men currently just three points adrift in second-place, so it’s unlikely they would agree to cash-in on one of their key players mid-season.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news

If the Daily Star’s report is accurate, I’d guess that Arsenal will be discussing a potential move with Destro agent for the summer, not January. A striker is possibly the last position Wenger needs to strengthen this winter as a centre-back and defensive midfielder have got to be greater priorities for the Frenchman, so I’d be shocked if he was planning on spending big on another front-man having only brought in Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez in the summer.