The Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira is ‘crazy’ about wearing the red and white shirt of Atletico Madrid, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Spanish paper claims Atletico have opened discussions with Arsenal for the transfer of Torreira, who is now the Madrid side’s ‘great’ target in his position.
The operation is said to be a complex one, however, due to the Gunners’ interest in the Atleti midfielder Thomas Partey, for whom a fee of €50 million (around £45.9m) is being asked, according to Mundo Deportivo.
But it adds that even though Arsenal have rejected Atletico’s first proposal, Torreira’s camp is ‘optimistic about a resolution’ being found, with the Uruguayan having now ‘diverted’ his interest in a move to either Fiorentina or Torino.
Torreira has featured 89 times in his two years at Arsenal, but has yet to appear in any of Mikel Arteta’s matchday squads this season.
The 24-year-old still has three years left on the contract he signed upon joining the Gunners from Sampdoria, in a deal worth a reported fee of around £25.8m.
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