Italian side Torino are set to up their efforts to sign midfielder Lucas Torreira from Arsenal and reunite him with former manager Marco Giampaolo.
The Serie A side have been heavily linked with a move for the Uruguayan this summer as he has found himself out of favour under Mikel Arteta.
A deal has been edging closer for a couple of weeks, with both clubs keen to get it over the line but so far differing on their valuation of the 24-year-old.
Tuttosport cover the situation today and state that Torino have made ‘decisive steps forward’ to match Arsenal’s demands and bring Torreira to the club.
Arsenal are taking their time before ‘countersigning’ on an operation of that nature but the deal ‘remains hot’ and could be unlocked at ‘any moment’ in a ‘few more days’.
As far as the newspaper is concerned, the two clubs are ‘striving to find a solution’; something backed up in England, where there is consistent talk about a deal being ready to go.
Corriere Dello Sport offer a different take on proceedings, though. They don’t mention a permanent deal but instead say Torreira could return on loan.
According to their information, Torino have offered a two-year loan deal with a purchase option tacked onto the end of it.
What that purchase price is, isn’t mentioned but they do say the overall deal would be between €20-22m including Torreira’s €2m in wages.
Their stance is that would be acceptable for the Gunners as they state confidently that ‘the opening seems to have arrived’ to get the transfer over the line.
So a very different view from both newspapers, although there is that common two-year theme in which the loan lasts for that long or the price is paid over that term.
Either way, it’s pretty clear that a deal is there to be done, with Torino keen to sign him and Arsenal very open to a sale.
