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Juventus' Juan Cuadrado celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Juventus Turin in Munich, southern Germany, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Juventus' Juan Cuadrado celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Juventus Turin in Munich, southern Germany, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Juan Cuadrado and Lucas Perez

James DudkoJun 15, 2017

Arsenal have reportedly bid £17.6 million for Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado, but the Serie A giants want closer to £30 million for the Colombia international, who is also wanted by the Gunners' north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

A report from Alvise Cagnazzo of The Sun has detailed Arsenal's attempts to sign one-time Chelsea man Cuadrado: "With Alexis Sanchez likely to leave the Emirates this summer, the Gunners are in the market for a replacement. And are targeting the Colombian—but face serious competition from Tottenham. Juventus are looking for around £30m before agreeing to sell."

Cagnazzo's assertion Cuadrado is a potential replacement for Gunners' attacking talisman Sanchez is a curious one. While the 29-year-old is blessed with pace, power and flair, he has always been better as a provider from the wings, rather than a prolific goalscorer like Sanchez.

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Real Madrid's Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (R) tackles Juventus' Colombian midfielder Juan Cuadrado during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Juventus and Real Madrid at The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on June 3, 201

In fact, Cuadrado's better fit at Arsenal may be on the flanks in the version of the 3-4-3 manager Arsene Wenger switched his team to late last season. Cuadrado would thrive as either a wide forward in a fluid front three or as a workhorse wing-back on either side of the formation.

Even though he is a talent and comfortable in the Italian top flight, Cuadrado is a candidate to be sold by Juve this season, per Cagnazzo: "Despite proving his worth, he has struggled to nail down a starting place—and Massimiliano Allegri would be willing to allow him to leave in order to fund other moves."

Bringing Cuadrado back to London would be a risk after his brief and disappointing spell at Chelsea. He was loaned to Juve for the last two seasons, with the Old Lady only confirming a permanent transfer for the South American in May, per BBC Sport.

Chelsea's Colombian midfielder Juan Cuadrado (L) vies with Sunderland's English striker Jermain Defoe during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on May 24, 2015. 
AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

Considering Juve revealed they would pay £17 million in "three annual instalments," per the report, the Serie A champions may have trouble shifting Cuadrado so soon this summer.

Sevilla Join Race for Arsenal Striker

Lucas Perez is now wanted by La Liga duo Deportivo La Coruna and Sevilla, according to his agent. The Spanish striker was overlooked for most of his debut season with the Gunners and is now set to move on.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Lucas Perez of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on January 31, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

His agent, Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle, told Spanish radio station Radio Galega (h/t James Benge of the London Evening Standard): "Anything is possible—the president of Depor can do wonders, while last year I met with Sevilla, who again are interested."

One key factor in any deal to sell Perez will be Arsenal's desire to "recoup the majority of the fee they paid last year," per Benge. The 28-year-old cost the Gunners £17 million late last summer but struggled for playing time on Wenger's watch.

Perez made just nine starts across all competitions, although he did contribute seven goals, according to WhoScored.com. He showed the pace and versatility to play on the left, right or through the middle, and he also displayed the technique to combine well with other attackers, particularly target man Olivier Giroud.

BILBAO, SPAIN - MARCH 02:  Lucas Perez of Deportivo La Coruna reacts during the La Liga match between Athletic Club Bilbao and RC Deportivo La Coruna at San Mames Stadium on March 2, 2016 in Bilbao, Spain.  (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Even so, Wenger was continually reluctant to trust Perez ahead of Giroud, Sanchez and Danny Welbeck. With Arsenal attempting to recruit a new striker—they are linked with big-money moves France internationals Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe, per The Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson—it makes sense to cash in on Perez.

However, there are more questions than answers about a bid for Cuadrado, who doesn't fit as a potential replacement for Sanchez.

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