Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Ricardo Rodriguez and Andrea Belotti
Wolfsburg full-back Ricardo Rodriguez has refused approaches from Arsenal and Chelsea, turning his back on a switch to the Premier League.
Tuttosportย (h/tย Chris Davieย ofย Metro) reported the talented defender has opted to snub the Gunners and Blues because he desires a move to Inter Milan. The player has a ยฃ19 million release clause and has also garnered interest from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Inter, backed byย Chinese ownerย Suningย Holdings Group,ย want to buy the playerย but must sell talent before they purchase targets in January,ย per Davie.
According toย Duncan Wright and Emanueleย Giulianelliย ofย The Sunย (h/t the Daily Star'sย Alex Harris), Blues manager Antonioย Conteย hoped he could land the Switzerland international for ยฃ21 million,ย adding competition for Marcos Alonso.
Rodriguez is the perfect modern full-back who can defend and attack in equal measures. His crossing ability is second to none, and he would provide Inter with plenty of width.
Hector Bellerin has been a huge success at right-back for Arsenal, andย Rodriguez could have been the perfect foil on the opposite flank.
The 24-year-old has featured in 15 Bundesliga games this term, according toย WhoScored.com, scoring twice and supplying two assists. The player's overall form has slumped in recent months, but his pedigree remains as he carries a fine set of attributes.
In other Gunners news, manager Arseneย Wenger is pursuingย Torino forward Andrea Belotti, but Wenger will have to break his club's ยฃ42.4 million transfer record to sign the Italian.
According toย Danielย Cuttsย andย Giulianelliย ofย The Sun, the north London giants would have to pay ยฃ50 million to acquire Belotti's services. The valuation has made Wenger think twice, but he is still keen to scout the player in the weeks ahead.
Cutts andย Giulianelli quoted aย Serieย A source as saying:
"Arsenal have an option forย Belottiย fromย Torino, and he is available for 60m Euros.ย That is to get him now before any other teams come in for him, but Arsenal will not pay that amount just yet.
They will wait to see what happens with him this season, and think about moving for him again in the summer.
"
Belotti regularly scoresย for the Turin outfit, and he is a predator who has improved his all-around game.
Here is the striker in action for Il Toro:
The 23-year-old is a classic No. 9, and it is clear to see why he has made such a splash in the Italian top division.
The player has shades of Ian Wright to his game in the six-yard box, and Arsenal lack such a predatory force in their front line.
Olivier Giroud is enjoying a strong spell of form, but he has often been left on the bench by Wenger as the manager looks for more fluid options.
Alexis Sanchez has been thrust into the striker's role on many occasions this season, but it is not the Chilean superstar's best position.
However, ยฃ50 million would be an incredibleย price to pay for the Italian attacker, and it shows how inflatedย the market becomes when the transfer window is open.
