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‘The boy has qualities’: Arsenal could sign the new Lautaro Martinez for £18m

Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
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Santos striker Kaio Jorge has the ability to develop in the manner of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, agent and Brazilian football expert Sabatino Durante has told Radio Marte of the reported Arsenal target.

There’s a reason why Manchester City see Lautaro as the ideal successor to Sergio Aguero at the Etihad (EuroSport).

Because the Argentina international shares a fair few similarities with his 32-year-old compatriot – a lethal, penalty-box poacher blessed with speed, skill and strength in equal measure.

It’s those same attributes that have seen Jorge stand out back home in Brazil too, with Santos’ latest fleet-footed wonderkid attracting interest from clubs across Europe.

One of those, according to Calciomercato, is an Arsenal side that has picked up David Luiz, Willian, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli since hiring ex-Brazil ace Edu as technical director in 2019.

Napoli have been linked too but, according to Durante, Jorge should be wary of a move to Italy after fellow Brazilians Gerson, Lucas Paqueta and Gabriel Barbosa struggled in Serie A.

“The Brazilians who came to Italy were all talents but we didn’t know their characteristics and, elsewhere, they proved something. Often, we don’t even know how to wait (for them to realise their potential),” Durante explains, via Napoli Piu.

Lautaro Martinez
Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

“Kajo Jorge is not Neymar or Messi, he could be a Lautaro Martinez. But we have to wait for him.

“At Napoli, he risks sitting on the bench. Do you spend £30 million and loan him out? Napoli cannot afford to spend so much and then ask the courtesy of a second-tier team to take him.

“The boy has qualities, there is no doubt about this.”

According to Il Romanista, Jorge’s £18 million price tag is falling fast with only a few months remaining before he enters free agency.

Photo by Ricardo Moraes – Pool/Getty Images