Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal set Lucas Torreira transfer fee as AC Milan prepare first bid
ARSENAL have set a transfer fee of around £45m for Lucas Torreira, as AC Milan prepare a first bid for the Uruguay midfielder.
Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira performs impressive flick for Uruguay
Arsenal are unwilling to let Torreira go this summer, as manager Unai Emery considers him a vital part of his plan.
But a large bid for the player may be enough to persuade the Gunners hierarchy, according to Gazette Dello Sport.
If a team matches Arsenal’s £45m valuation of the midfielder, it would mean a £19m profit from last year.
Arsenal bought Torreira from Sampdoria for £26m, and he was one of Emery’s first signings as the new Gunners boss.
AC Milan are now preparing a first bid for the Uruguay international
AC Milan are now preparing a first bid for the Uruguay international.
But there proposed initial offer of around £31m will fall well short of Arsenal’s valuation.
Milan boss Marco Giampaolo is keen to recruit Torreira to kickstart his new regime at the San Siro.
Giampaolo worked with Torreira while he was manager at Sampdoria, and the Gunners player would welcome a reunion with his former boss.
AC Milan will be confident of landing their man by the end of the transfer window, after Torreira revealed he was struggling to adapt to life in the UK.
Last week, he made it clear that he’d be open to a move back to Italy.
He said: “I don’t know if there are many things that I enjoy [in England].
“I think it was better in Italy. England is a totally different world, a very large country.
“The language [barrier] has stopped me, to be able to relate with my team-mates and with the people.
“It is very difficult when you can’t have dialogue.”
Emery knows that he has to spend big this summer if he wants to challenge for a Champions League spot next season.
Any offer for Torreira could tempt the Gunners into selling, as they look to upgrade their current squad, alongside their £40m summer transfer budget.