Reported Arsenal and Manchester City target Manuel Locatelli is “ready” to play for any club in European football, Sassuolo teammate Francesco Magnanelli has told TMW.
Wolverhampton Wanderers ace Ruben Neves isn’t the only name on Arsenal’s wish-list as the Gunners prepare for life without Granit Xhaka at the Emirates.
According to Il Resto del Carlino in May, the London giants also have their sights firmly fixed on Serie A star Locatelli, a deep-lying, tempo-setting sat-nav of a footballer who loves nothing more than orchestrating proceedings from his favoured ‘number six’ role.
Earlier this year, the Daily Mail claimed Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had identified the one-time AC Milan youngster as an ideal replacement for Fernandinho too.
But with the evergreen 36-year-old now expected to stay for at least another season at the Etihad, Arsenal can probably be considered the most likely Premier League destination for a man who, valued at £30 million, would come slightly cheaper than Neves.
Arsenal – Locatelli rather than Neves?
“He can play in any team in Italy and Europe,” Magnanelli says of Locatelli.
“He has great quality – he’s ready (for a big move). I’ve seen few players at his level. Whoever takes him, makes a bargain.”
There appears to be an awareness the Italy international has outgrown a club that recently suffered the heart-breaking loss of influential manager Roberto De Zerbi to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Locatelli isn’t the only Sassuolo player expected to leave this summer, with Leicester City keen to take a one-time Premier League prospect back to England…
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