Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours and Top Targets Wanted by Arsene Wenger

Arsenal have reportedly made a bid for Udinese striker Duvan Zapata, according to club president Franco Soldati.

Zapata is halfway through a two-year loan deal at Stadio Friuli from Napoli, yet Soldati told Radio Kiss Kiss that offers have come in from elsewhere—including the Emirates Stadium, via Uche Amako of Daily Express:

"

There is a clause that allows Napoli to recall him [Zapata] early from the two-year loan.

He is very happy in Udine, his agent said that too and I hope he can remain with our jersey.

He also received many offers from abroad, including from Arsenal. However, first we want coach Beppe Iachini to get to know the team so they can make shared decisions.

"

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Gunners fans are crying out for a new striker to lead the line next season, but news of the club’s interest in Zapata won’t exactly fill supporters with optimism.

A renowned star up front is what they really want, although the Colombian certainly has the ability to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

According to WhoScored.com, Zapata scored eight Serie A goals and created two more in 2015/16, with his explosive pace and positional expertise truly catching the eye.

Here’s a look at what Zapata can bring to the table:

Making the step up from Udinese to Arsenal would be an enormous one, though, and it’s safe to say that signing him would be something of a gamble on Arsene Wenger’s part.

The Gunners want a striker who can offer something more than Olivier Giroud, and unless Zapata kicks on and fulfils his potential at the Emirates, the Frenchman will continue to lead the line.

Plus, it seems the 25-year-old wants to repay Napoli for bringing him to Europe by devoting his career to the Serie A giants.

Zapata’s agent Fernando Villarreal said that if his client was guaranteed first-team football at Stadio San Paolo, he’d return in a heartbeat, according to TuttoNapoli (h/t via Football Italia):

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Duvan adores Napoli and Naples, it’s the club that opened the door to Europe for him and he’ll never forget that, but at this point in his career he needs to play a lot, to have minutes to show his value.

If there was space at the Vesuviani in the future, he would return without doubt.

"

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Elsewhere, Jamie Sanderson of the Sun has reported the Gunners are ready to break the bank to sign Juventus forward Alvaro Morata.

Morata’s former club Real Madrid are set to activate a buy-back clause on Morata for £25 million before selling him on for a big profit, and Arsenal are waiting in the wings.

Sanderson said the Gunners will offer him a whopping £155,000 per week on a five-year contract.

TIZIANA FABI/Getty Images

Should the Spaniard make the switch, fans would finally have the household name they’ve been crying out for—and his reputation is completely founded, too.

The signing of Granit Xhaka has lifted the gloom over the Emirates. Arsenal saw off stiff competition for the Swiss international’s signature, and suddenly the north Londoners look like they mean business.

Bringing in a 30-goals-per-season striker would complete Wenger’s puzzle, leaving the Gunners in the perfect position to make a meaningful title charge.