Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli is not interested in talking to Arsenal about a move this summer.
That’s according to Gazzetta Dello Sport, who say the focus is on securing a move to Juventus for the highly-sought Italian.
They explain that after a meeting between the two clubs yesterday, they are still apart on their valuations, and a deal is unlikely to happen any time soon.
But another ‘formal step’ has been taken nonetheless, and Juventus have now made their first official offer for him.
That is made up of €37m plus bonuses, which are ‘difficult to reach’ and includes a two-year loan and a conditional buyback obligation, but Sassuolo are far from excited at that bid.
Thus further meetings are needed to work out a deal, with Juventus’ other offer of a €5m upfront, a two-year loan and another €25m in instalments, also having failed to convince their Serie A counterparts.
One problem for Juventus is that Sassuolo have already received bids from other clubs, namely Arsenal, which are far more attractive.
The Gunners are willing to pay €40m for the midfielder, but Locatelli ‘does not want to start talking’ and is waiting for Juventus to sort things out.
He only wants a move there and will only consider a transfer to Turin this summer, seemingly ruling Arsenal out of the running entirely.
Juve are counting on this to help them get their man, but their offers so far, particularly the one yesterday, are nowhere near enough and they need to find a way to close the gap considerably over the next two weeks.
