Arsenal Transfer News: Marek Hamsik and Mattia Destro Eyed in £50M Swoop

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will turn his attentions to the Italian top flight this winter, but the club will need to spend big in order to land Marek Hamsik and Mattia Destro.

Alex Harris of the Daily Star reports that Napoli's Hamsik and Roma's Destro would cost £30 million and £20 million, respectively. Hamsik's agent Juraj Venglos recently refused to comment on his client's future, adding more fuel to the fire of a potential Napoli exit:

"The future? I prefer not to talk about that."

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Hamsik is under contract at the Stadio San Paolo until 2018, but a lack of title contention may see Rafa Benitez's attacking-midfield marvel consider his options.

Napoli currently sit seventh in Serie A and, despite having lost just three league games this term, only Sampdoria, Sassuolo and Empoli have recorded more draws than their six.

It's a long way from the Napoli of several seasons ago, where the "Holy Trinity" of Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani ran rampant throughout Italy's ranks.

The Slovakian is the only component of that crew who still remains in Naples, with David Amoyal of GianlucaDiMarzio.com reporting that club president Aurelio de Laurentiis is "very close" to the playmaker:

As such, Napoli will likely fight hard to keep Hamsik, as will Roma for Destro. Harris quotes Roma director of sport Walter Sabatini proclaiming his asset won't be moving anywhere:

"We're happy with the roster we have, but we're always monitoring. Destro is off the market as far as we are concerned, we consider him a top player and therefore he won't leave."

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Wenger already brought in the talents of former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck over the summer and recently welcomed Olivier Giroud back from injury.

However, the Frenchman appears intent on boosting his attacking reserves further, although Julian De Martinis of ESPN FC doesn't see Destro as a reliable option:

"

This team needs a prima punta who can finish so badly. And sadly, I'm not sure it's Destro based on current form.

— Julian De Martinis (@JulianDM11) December 14, 2014"

The forward's time has been split finely between starting and appearances off the bench this season, scoring four goals in 12 outings, seven of which have been as part of the starting XI, per WhoScored.com.

For all the talk of attacking reinforcements, however, former United States international Janusz Michallik spoke with Bleacher Report's Ryan Bailey about defensive additions that need to be made this winter:

Looking at Sabatini's staunch position, it would take massive effort for Destro to depart the Stadio Olimpico, and the 23-year-old would undoubtedly have to feel his chances of playing time were better in north London.

With Giroud back among their ranks, it doesn't seem as though an improvement in prominence is something Wenger could guarantee the Italian, especially if he's to also turn Welbeck into an Emirates hero.

Not only would the Serie A pair of Hamsik and Destro boast substantial transfer tags, but both their clubs are extremely hesitant to let either attacking star leave.