Arsenal transfer news: Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira flirts with Gunners move

The Sampdoria midfielder recently followed the North London club’s official account and star play-maker Mesut Ozil on Instagram amid rumours of a Premier League switch.

Torreira has a €25million (£22m) release clause in his contract but it is thought that Genoa-based outfit Sampdoria are keen to push for a higher fee.

The Serie A star has already attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund and Napoli but his social media activity, and particularly its timing, could suggest that an Arsenal move is well and truly in the pipeline.

Torreira, who will play at the World Cup with Uruguay in Russia, would tick off the box as Arsenal’s head of recruitment searches for a central midfielder to strengthen the club’s spine.

As well as the 22-year-old, Arsenal have been linked with a move for Sevilla and former Stoke City midfielder Steven N’Zonzi and Marouane Fellaini, who will leave Manchester United at the expiry of his contract in the coming weeks.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio believes Arsenal face serious competition from Napoli for Torreira, who started in 36 of Sampdoria’s 38 top-flight matches last term.

That’s with their holding midfielder, Jorginho, expected to seal a move to Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City in the coming weeks.

Di Marzio says that Arsenal have yet to reach an agreement with the player and his representatives with Torreira having asked for more time, precisely one week, to think over his future.

Arsenal, also looking at signing a new goalkeeper and another centre-back, have already secured deals for Stephan Lichtsteiner and £16m Dortmund centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

New manager Unai Emery has also been linked with moves for Bayer Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno, Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele.