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Talks underway: Arsenal contact agent as Emery eyes £48m double swoop

By on May 25, 2018

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Arsenal are eyeing a potential £48m double swoop for Lorenzo Pellegrini and Dennis Praet as Unai Emery begins to reshape his new squad.

Emery was unveiled as Arsenal’s new manager earlier this week and the Spaniard is wasting no time in trying to put his own stamp on the squad that Arsene Wenger left behind.

We’re expected to target a new goalkeeper and centre-back this summer but central midfield is also a priority as Santi Cazorla has left the club while the future’s of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are also in doubt.

It looks like Emery is already working on potential replacements as Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims Arsenal are showing a keen interest in signing Roma star Lorenzo Pellegrini.

The 21-year-old has progressed through the youth ranks at Roma to become a first team regular and he made 37 appearances last season to help them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Di Marzio says Arsenal are keen to negotiate a price lower than his release clause – which is set at £26m according to Sky Sports – but Roma are unlikely to sell Pellegrini for anything less.

Even if we do have to pay £26m, that kind of money seems reasonable in today’s market for a full Italian international midfielder who has a huge future ahead of him.

Pellegrini isn’t the only midfielder we’re after as Di Marzio claims Arsenal have also opened discussions with the agent of Sampdoria star Dennis Praet about a move to north London.

The Italian journo says the 24-year-old could be viewed as a back-up to Pellegrini or Emery may swoop for both players if he loses another midfielder such as Wilshere or Ramsey.

Praet has been in excellent form since joining Sampdoria from Anderlecht two years ago and he’s also broken in to the Belgian squad so he has an exciting future ahead of him.

It seems his potential has alerted Arsenal and Di Marzio says we could now meet the midfielders £22m release clause but the likes of Napoli, Juventus and Inter Milan are also in the running.

If we buy both Pellegrini and Praet then it will set us back around £48m, which would be the majority of our summer budget if reports are to be believed, so it wouldn’t leave Emery much left in the bank to strengthen other areas of the squad.

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