CalcioMercato claim that Serie A midfielder Samuele Ricci has been added to Arsenal’s shortlist, as we enter the last week of the January window. The 20-year-old talent has been in superb form for Italian outfit Empoli.
Ricci has broken into Empoli’s senior side after coming through the academy, and despite his tender age, Ricci has clocked up a huge 90 appearances for the top-tier side. He has a contract at Empoli until 2024.
Arsenal, of course, are in the market for a midfielder. Thomas Partey has returned from AFCON, but was sent off against Liverpool. Granit Xhaka has come in for criticism, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles has joined Roma on loan.
Mo Elneny remains at AFCON but is out of contract in the summer. Arsenal are trying to bring in Juventus midfielder Arthur but it appears a deal is a tricky one. So, The Gunners have added Ricci to their January shortlist.
Such is his talent and the hype surrounding Ricci, Gazzetta reported earlier this month – as per The Mirror – that many are calling him the “mini Jorginho”. La Nazione said in the summer he had a price tag of £12.5million.
Arsenal eye Ricci: Empoli star has it all, but is there enough time?
The chances of Ricci being open to a move to the Premier League and Arsenal is high – but whether he will want to leave his boyhood club in the middle of the season is a different matter.
Empoli are certainly safe from a relegation battle, sitting in a comfortable 12th place in Serie A. But Ricci is 10 games shy of reaching 100 for Empoli and remaining until the summer is likely, before Arsenal eye a move.
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