Arsenal have been linked with a move for AS Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.
What’s the news?
According to a recent report from Football News 24, the Gunners and Juventus are monitoring the Italian’s situation at his current club.
The report claimed that there are a couple of stumbling blocks regarding Zaniolo’s contract renewal at the Stadio Olimpico. The 23-year-old is asking for a higher salary than what Roma are willing to offer, while there is also a difference of stance over possible bonuses.
In turn, Arsenal may be watching the situation closely in case a renewal cannot be agreed, with the Italian’s current deal set to expire in 2024.
Zaniolo at Roma
Zaniolo joined Roma from fellow Serie A side Inter Milan in 2018. Since then, has made 118 appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side across all competitions, scoring 22 goals and delivering 16 assists along the way.
Last season saw the midfielder score just two goals and provide two assists in 28 Serie A appearances, earning himself an overall performance rating of 6.67/10 from WhoScored. This rating would have put him outside the top 10 Arsenal players for the concurrent Premier League campaign by the same metric.
The current season has not been particularly impressive for Zaniolo either, as he is yet to deliver a goal or assist for his team in five league appearances.
His performances haven’t been worthy of a move to Arsenal either, as he has only earned a rather uninspiring rating of 6.31/10 from WhoScored, making him one of the lowest-rated players to start more than one Serie A game for the Giallorossi.
In fact, no other player at the Stadio Olimpico has lost the ball more times after being tackled by an opponent than the Italy midfielder (15).
Don’t do it, Edu
Despite previously being described as a “frightening” player by journalist Ben Jacobs, it seems as though the only people in England that Zaniolo would scare are Arsenal’s medical staff, given his extensive injury record.
Taking all that into account, we feel that it would be a big mistake from Edu to make a move to sign the £77k-per-week midfielder, who may not have what it takes to give the likes of Martin Odegaard or Fabio Vieira cause for concern about their game-time.
