Arsenal Transfer News: Aaron Ramsey Reportedly Wanted by Juventus

Juventus want to offer Aaron Ramsey a contract in the hope of landing the Arsenal midfield playmaker on a free transfer next summer.

Ramsey is free to talk with foreign clubs from January with his deal expiring in the summer, and Calciomercato (h/t Jack Otway of the Daily Express) reported that Juve are keen on Saturday.

The same source reported on Wednesday that the Bianconeri wouldn't make an offer to Ramsey due to concerns over his wage demands.

Ramsey's future appears destined to lie away from Arsenal after BBC Sport's David Ornstein reported in September that the north London club had withdrawn a four-year contract extension despite having an agreement.

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It leaves the Gunners needing to decide whether to sell Ramsey during the January transfer window or lose him for free next summer. Whatever the decision, head coach Unai Emery needs to identify the best way to replace a player integral to Arsenal when he's on form.

Ramsey's box-to-box runs, eye for a pass and scoring touch can make him an asset for any club at the highest level. They are also qualities the 27-year-old has struggled to show consistently since Emery succeeded Arsene Wenger in the dugout during the summer.

The Spaniard has most often deployed Ramsey as a No. 10, a position not ideally suited to the best aspects of his game.

A search for potential replacements has taken Emery to Ever Banega, according to MailOnline's Sami Mokbel. Banega often played behind the striker for Emery at Sevilla.

The Argentina international is outperforming Ramsey so far this season:

Banega isn't the only midfielder said to be on Emery's radar, though. Hector Herrera has also been mooted as a target after an Arsenal official watched Porto beat Galatasaray 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, per A Bola (h/t Football.London's Tashan Deniran-Alleyne).

The news seems to only increase the likelihood Ramsey will be plying his trade elsewhere next season. Arsenal would surely prefer to fetch a fee, but Juventus waited patiently to snap up Emre Can from Liverpool for nothing this summer.