Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners in 'intense' 7-way fight for Serie A starlet

Arsenal are one of seven clubs that hold an ‘intense’ interest in a Serie A starlet ahead of the January transfer window, according to a new report.

The Gunners currently have a slender advantage at the top of the Premier League, but with injuries biting hard throughout the first half of the campaign, Mikel Arteta may well seek even more depth once the market opens in the new year.

Defence has once again been a problem area for the north Londoners on the fitness front, with Gabriel, William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White all spending time on the sidelines.

And according to a recent claim, there are options that Arsenal have their eye on – and could yet act upon in the coming weeks.

Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra, currently on loan at Cagliari, has caught the attention of plenty of European heavyweights.

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are one of seven overseas clubs – including Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United – who have been keeping tabs on the 20-year-old, with scouts said to be keeping up to date with the wonderkid’s progression ‘every week’.

Alongside the Gunners in this ‘intense’ transfer battle are La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, as well as Bayern Munich. There is also plenty of domestic interest in Palestra.

It is clear that Palestra’s services are in demand, pointing to a high level of potential given that he has started just four games for Atalanta’s first team.

One note of caution for Arsenal and their rivals in this chase is that Atalanta are unlikely to bow to pressure, with CaughtOffside reporting that Palestra will have to go for big money – around £30-35m – if the 2024 Europa League winners even entertain a sale.

The fact Liverpool failed in a summer approach for the youngster also suggests Atalanta are keen to profit from Palestra’s talents on the pitch rather than receive a sizeable transfer fee.

One particular facet that could be turning the heads of the big European clubs is Palestra’s versatility. While he is considered a right-back, Palestra has featured in midfield more often, also displaying competence on the other side of the pitch, handing coaches a variety of options.

An immediate starter for his loan side, Palestra has shown his creative talents, recording three assists in 15 appearances.

Whether he can make the next step up remains to be seen, but with all these scouts keeping tabs on Palestra, his rise through the ranks could be inevitable – the big questions now are where he ends up, and whether the likes of Arsenal can talk Atalanta into selling.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.