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Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is a target for Italian side Sampdoria, who have made him their ‘preferred’ option this month.

That’s according to Il Secolo XIX, cited by Samp News 24, who say the Serie A side have turned their attention to the Arsenal man after they rejected another option.

Sampdoria need a new centre back this month as Omar Colley is away at the African Cup of Nations, and Maya Yoshida has suffered an injury that will see him out for a few weeks.

Manager Roberto D’Aversa is keen to add a player to cover for this but has turned down Turkish defender Serdar Saatci, who was proposed by Paolo Busardò.

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Instead, the ‘new target’ is Arsenal’s Pablo Mari, who could be available after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates.

Il Secolo state that Arsenal are willing to allow him to leave ‘immediately’ on loan until the end of the season as he has only made two appearances in the Premier League this season.

That is something the player wants to fix as he wants to ‘play continuously’, and Sampdoria could offer that.

Whether talks have been opened with the Gunners isn’t mentioned, but the interest is there, and a deal looks easy to get over the line if they want it.