Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Jorginho and Diego Perotti Rumours

Arsenal reportedly scouted Serie A duo Jorginho and Diego Perotti when their teams faced off in Italy on Sunday.

According to GianlucaDiMarzio.com (h/t Metro's Tom Olver), Arsenal chief scout Tony Banfield saw Jorginho's Napoli face Perotti's Genoa and was there to watch the two players in question.

The former is a holding midfielder who could provide valuable cover and competition for Francis Coquelin.

According to Squawka, the 23-year-old has won 17 tackles in 10 Serie A appearances for the Partenopei this season and maintained an impressive 90 per cent passing accuracy while doing so.

Football writer Matthew Amalfitano is among his admirers:

He also bagged two assists in an outstanding performance in the Europa League against Club Brugge. Here are some of his highlights from the season so far:

Perotti is a versatile, two-footed winger who can operate on either flank or if need be provide cover centrally.

WhoScored's Cristiano Acconci shares his statistically calculated strengths, as well as his stats from last season, while football writer David Amoyal reveals himself to be a fan of the Argentinian:

Squawka's Richard Hall runs the rule over what makes the former Sevilla man such a challenging opponent:

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He hugs the touch line and attacks the full backs with electric pace. His control and ability to drag the ball back sees him apply the brakes quicker than most. By the time the defender has re-positioned ‘Diego’ has already accelerated and beat him again.

He is an old school winger and has the ability to beat a man and his crossing is also superb. He is also not scared of a tackle and does not neglect his defensive duties.

"

Indeed, he has demonstrated these traits by creating 21 chances this season—bettered only by Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla at Arsenal—and completing 25 take-ons from 35 attempts in just eight appearances according to Squawka.

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

Like Jorginho, Perotti would provide strong cover—something Arsenal have great need of given their frequent injury crises—and give manager Arsene Wenger a greater array of wide options, further freeing up the likes of Theo Walcott to feature centrally.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, both players look set to stay in Italy.

According to Football Italia, Jorginho's agent Joao Santos told Radio Crc: "If he keeps doing well he’ll be at Napoli for a long time. I’ve talked with [sporting director Cristiano] Giuntoli, but talks are only in their infancy and we hope something will materialise in the future."

Meanwhile, Perotti told Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia): "This is an ideal environment to live, my wife is extremely happy here."

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

That said, Arsenal would undoubtedly provide a great lure for either player, Perotti in particular given Genoa aren't a club who regularly feature in Europe.

As Hall indicates though, the winger has struggled with injury problems in the past—something that has seen him miss out on moves to interested elite clubs such as Real Madrid and the Gunners themselves.

The 27-year-old hasn't missed a significant run of games due to injury since the 2013-14 season, but it could still be a concern. After all, he won't make much use as cover if he's injured himself.

As for Jorginho, he's not quite as defensively minded or capable as Coquelin, but he does like to provide goalscoring opportunities for his team from midfield and his comfort in possession would see him fit in well at Arsenal.