Who is Torino striker Andrea Belotti, the man Arsenal have bid £56 million for?

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Whilst Arsenal fans were not expecting much from the January transfer window this season, Torino director of sport Gianluca Petrachi sparked life into the rumour mill by claiming that the club had turned down a bid worth £56 million for striker Andrea Belotti. Petrachi told Sky Italia:

“We have refused an offer from Arsenal for Belotti. Honestly, I believe that we should enjoy the present and I think that the player is worth much more than that. Their offer is not enough for us, Belotti’s worth much more. We are happy to have him with us, let’s see what will happen in the future.”

There is hope for the Gunners though, with a release clause to foreign clubs in the 23-year-old’s new contract which he signed with the Italian club only months ago. However, that clause is set at a value of £87 million.

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What would he bring to the Gunners?

Goals. The Italian has scored 13 goals in 17 Serie A appearances so far this season, with a further three in five for the national team since making his debut. A fine finisher, Belotti is also known for his movement and desire to fight up front and give his all for the cause. Quick and strong, Belotti is a good all-round striker and certainly knows where the net is.

Is a move likely?

Arsenal have denied that they made a bid for the Torino man, so one club isn’t quite telling the truth. It would certainly not be a surprised to see the Gooners chase a striker, Alexis Sanchez still does not come across as an out and out striker and Olivier Giroud has struggled for game time this season, with Lucas Perez played out wide. Belotti is likely to want to take the next step up the footballing ladder in the near future, but it’s hard to imagine Arsene Wenger splashing the cash in such a way on one player with little experience at the top level.

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Verdict

4/10 – Belotti would fit in at Arsenal, there’s little doubt about that, but a look at their recent transfer dealings would suggest that such a move would be unlikely. Torino would demand a huge fee, clearly in excess of £56 million, and Arsene Wenger’s biggest spends have been on experienced and proven stars, like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. He’s sure to attract interest, but the Emirates may not be his destination.

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