Arsenal Transfer News: Andrea Belotti Linked Amid Liverpool Talk, Latest Rumours

Arsenal will reportedly lock horns with Liverpool in a bid to sign Torino striker Andrea Belotti as Gunners manager Arsene Wenger seeks more attacking reinforcements. 

According to the Sun's Geoff Sweet, Belotti "could be bought for around £12.5 million," and Wenger has already shown interest in the forward, who joined Torino from Palermo in the summer of 2015.

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Since then, the 22-year-old has gone on to net 16 goals in 39 appearances for his current Serie A employers, four of which have come this season.

In fact, OptaPaolo highlighted just how rare his show of initiative has been in the Italian top flight, averaging two goals per game before suffering a hamstring injury to curtail his progress:

Wenger already brought in striker Lucas Perez this past summer, but it's suggested the manager doesn't have a lot of faith in crocked attacker Danny Welbeck, who is battling to return to fitness by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Belotti has emerged as one of Italy's in-form forwards, and Liverpool could provide the Gunners with stiff competition, particularly after they sold Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace.

The Italian appears to be finding his place in Serie A after a period of settling in, and 11 of his 12 goals for Torino last season came after December, and he has now scored 15 in the league this year altogether.

In fact, Bleacher Report's Lars Pollmann recently suggested the young up-and-comer deserves to take his place in the Italy squad moving forward, having already shown great strides in the league of late:

Belotti is young enough to still fit Wenger's preference for recruiting youthful players, while his budding record in Serie A suggests he's now ready to duel against more seasoned professionals.

Olivier Giroud still leads the Gunners attack as Perez looks to find his way in the team, but Arsenal will need to beat their Merseyside rivals if they're to add Belotti to that list of potential assets in 2017.

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Meanwhile, French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of Manchester Evening News) reported Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann has cut ties with his agent and will now be advised by his father instead.

It's suggested the move might help Griezmann get a transfer away from the Vicente Calderon in 2017, and Metro's Lee Thomas-Mason reported Arsenal as being interested, alongside Manchester United and Chelsea.