Arsenal have been linked with a move for Monza’s Gustavo Varela in recent weeks and Tottenham have also joined the chase for the striker.
The forward joined the Italian club from Benfica in the summer for only €2m plus bonuses. His impact has caught everyone off-guard, as Varela is currently the top scorer in Serie A, having bagged nine goals in just ten games.
Sport Witness have tracked how this has caught the attention of several suitors – Arsenal being one. Italian giants have also been alive to the idea of landing the Portuguese, who has also been called up to the national team for the first time in his career.
The buzz around Varela continues to reach new heights, with more clubs now in the hunt.
London clubs prowling
TuttoSport have a detailed report about the striker’s situation in Monza. They note that Juventus have now joined the race, providing strong competition to rivals Napoli, who will likely sign a new attacker in January.
But their task will be far from easy, as Arsenal and Tottenham have already knocked on Monza’s door. Barcelona have done the same, leaving Ivan Juric’s side to already draw up plans for their key asset.
The newspaper believe that a sale in January is near-impossible. Varela will be key for Monza’s survival in Serie A and parting ways in the middle of the season could be disastrous.
But the Brianza club will sell the 21-year-old in January, having put up a price tag of €30m to €35 already. This will also interest the player, who is very focused on progressing his career further and is eyeing the right project for that.
The report is certain that Arsenal and Tottenham – like other clubs, are still in the initial stages of the move. But Juve have positioned themselves well, as Varela has the same agent as Bianconeri talent Adin Licina.
This could be a big help, with Monza aware that interest in their player is growing.
Monza would be desperate
This is Monza’s first season back in Italy and they’ve had financial worries for years now. Varela’s big sale will go a long way in helping them and that is why they’re desperate for his transfer.
That is also why interest from Tottenham and Arsenal has been floated in the press already. It will help Monza create an auction and raise their price for the player.
At the same time, the London clubs need to keep monitoring the striker’s situation. While he has impressed, it could easily be a case of over-performance when his confidence is high.
The next few weeks will say a lot about Varela. He has a huge chance of making a mark on the global stage with the national team.
