Premier League duo Arsenal and Leicester City have both held talks with the agent of Empoli midfielder Samuele Ricci, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
He may be just 19, but do not make the mistake in assuming this Serie B starlet would be moving to England to play reserve team football.
Ricci, an Italy U21 international, is a seasoned pro already, featuring in 32 of a potential 33 games for an Empoli side cruising at the top of the second-tier table.
A battling, beligerant central midfielder, Ricci is just as comfortable breaking up play with a thudding challenge as he is carrying the ball through the lines.
The 6ft 1ins, Tuscan-born enforcer also has four assists to his name during a breakthrough 2020/21 campaign.
So with Arsenal and Leicester making their interest known – and holding talks with Ricci’s agent – don’t be too surprised if the young Italian is playing Premier League football on a regular basis next term.
Especially when you consider that, in Mikel Arteta and Brendan Rodgers, the Gunners and the Foxes both have coaches who have proven themselves more than willing to give youth a chance.
Sky Italia reported last summer that RB Leipzig, AC Milan and Fiorentina had all shown an interest, while Napoli made a £10 million bid. You would assume that, after a highly impressive campaign, Ricci may be worth even more than that these days.
Speaking last week, Empoli owner Fabrizio Corsi admitted that he was desperate to keep Ricci for another year as the club prepare for life back in Serie A.
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