Lucas Torreira is closing in on a return to Serie A with the Arsenal misfit expected to take a pay cut to join Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
They say money talks in football. Lucas Torreira would disagree.
After a couple of miserable years at club level, falling out of favour under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal before embarking on a forgettable loan spell at Atletico Madrid, the Uruguay international just wants to do what he loves most – play football week in, week out.
The former Sampdoria scrapper is willing to take a substantial pay cut to get his career back on track too.
Torreira earns £60,000 a week at Arsenal. Lazio, however, are only willing to offer £50,000 a week (£2.5 million a year)
Not that Torreira is too bothered about that.
Has Lucas Torreira played his last game for Arsenal?
The 25-year-old knows he has no future at Arsenal, especially with the London giants working on deals for Eduardo Camavinga and Albert Sambi Lokonga. And he’d rather lose £10,000 from his weekly pay packet than spend another season twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines.
However, there’s still work to be done before Torreira can be unveiled by a Lazio side that recently appointed Sarri as Simone Inzaghi’s replacement at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Rome-based giants want to sign the diminutive ball-winner on loan with an option to buy. Arsenal, however, are demanding £17 million – with half of that to be paid up front.
The uncertainty surrounding Joaquin Correa’s future could come into play as well.
Arsenal failed with an opening £17 million bid for the fleet-footed Argentine last week.
But the Gunners are now mulling over whether to offer Torreira as a makeweight in a deal that would see one of the most exciting attackers in Serie A move in the opposite direction.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
