Arsenal could lose two reported targets in one go; £34m and £14m men slipping away from Arteta

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At this stage, confirming Arsenal’s interest in Manuel Locatelli is like Dean Gaffney confirming his interest in becoming the next James Bond.

You can’t just speak things into existence and, if we are being brutally honest, it’s just not going to happen.

Locatelli’s agent insisted today that Arsenal have, in fact, lodged a £34 million bid for a man who certainly played his part as Italy conquered the continent for the first time since 1968 this summer (Standard).

But every man and his dog knows at this stage that the Sassuolo playmaker has his heart set on a move to boyhood club Juventus.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Locatelli is ignoring Arsenal’s advances, fluttering his eyelashes instead at the Old Lady from Turin. And, just to season the wounds a little, it seems that Arsenal could lose not one but two of their midfield targets in one fell swoop.

Will Arsenal miss out on Manuel Locatelli and Samuele Ricci?

Il Resto del Carlino report that, if and when Locatelli finally says his goodbyes at the Mapei Stadium, Sassuolo will waste no time in making their move for another up-and-coming midfield dynamo in the shape of Empoli’s Samuele Ricci.

Technically-gifted Italy U21 international Ricci was the driving force behind Empoli’s successful Serie B promotion bid last season, contributing two goals, four assists and countless Man of the Match performances to the cause.

He is also on Arsenal’s lengthy wishlist, according to TMW.

And while Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi has insisted that Ricci will be going nowhere – ‘we don’t sell’ – actions speak louder than words.

Sassuolo may soon have £40 million burning a hole in their back pocket and, should they launch a big-money bid for Ricci, Corsi may have no choice but to renege on his word.

So while Arsenal supporters can take plenty of encouragement out of the last few days – Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares have arrived already with Ben White set to follow – Juventus could be about to spark a series of events which will see both Locatelli and Ricci slip through Mikel Arteta’s fingers.