Arsenal Transfer News: Alessio Romagnoli Would Be Shrewd Capture for Gunners

Arsenal will attempt to purchase one of Italy's brightest talents when they move for Alessio Romagnoli in the summer.

Italian publication La Repubblica, via Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star, reports manager Arsene Wenger will move for the 20-year-old centre-back and "launch an offer in [the] coming months."

The Sampdoria defender has shone in the Italian league and is tipped for a big international future with the Azzurri national team.

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Wenger has previously caused concern with his lack of quality defensive signings, but the Frenchman has tried to bridge this issue with the January capture of Villarreal's highly rated Brazilian, Gabriel Paulista, per The Telegraph.

However, Anderson says the Gunners will now "snub" an attempt to capture World Cup winner Mats Hummels and favour potential over an expensive and established superstar.

Romagnoli has featured heavily for the Blucerchiati in Serie A, appearing 19 times during the current campaign, per WhoScored.com.

Wenger spoke about his need to strengthen his defence during the January transfer window as he negotiated the deal to bring Paulista to the EPL and spoke of his frustrations in buying defensive talent, per Sky Sports:

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It is not a supermarket where you go in and buy a defender. It is a market that is very restricted. The players who can strengthen the best 10 teams in Europe, you don't find many and it is the same for everybody.

We are a big attraction, of course we are. If it was easy, we would do it. We have made enquiries but then you have the second handicap. Who wants to sell their best player, especially a central defender, in the middle of the season?

They say, 'come back in June or July'.

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And it now seems Wenger has chosen who he wants in June or July, plumping for a player who could turn into one of Europe's best in his position.

The Arsenal career of German stalwart Per Mertesacker appears to now be in doubt, with Matt Law of The Telegraph saying the international is "playing for his future" at the Emirates:

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Mertesacker has struggled to produce his best form this season after returning from winning the World Cup with Germany in Brazil. He has also suffered from constant changes in personnel across Arsenal’s back four and goalkeeper this season. The 30-year-old now needs to convince Wenger that he does not need further defensive reinforcements at the end of the season or faces being squeezed out at the Emirates.

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Mertesacker has never been the quickest centre-back across the ground, but now that he's on the wrong side of 30 years old, Wenger will need to look towards more youthful options.

The German defender has always relied on his reading of the game to deter opposition attackers, but with the Gunners' high-pressure attacking tactics, it can often leave Mertesacker isolated and vulnerable. 

Romagnoli would be an excellent capture for Arsenal, and he could develop into the perfect partner for Paulista at the heart of the back four. 

His concentration and passing are suited to the EPL, and he would bring a sense of calm to the Arsenal defence as the cavalry charged forward.