Arsenal are edging towards receiving a considerable boost to their summer transfer funds with Lucas Torreira reportedly on the verge of a permanent move to Fiorentina.
The Uruguayan joined the Italian outfit on loan at the beginning of the season and he has enjoyed a successful spell with La Viola. Torreira has made 33 appearances for the side in all competitions, scoring five goals.
Despite a slight slump over the past few weeks with three consecutive league defeats, he has played a key role in Fiorentina’s battle for European football under Vincenzo Italiano. The form might have seen some suggest that the former Atletico Madrid loanee should return to the Emirates Stadium but it appears that his time as an Arsenal player is swiftly coming to an end.
According to Corriere della Sera, officials at the Serie A club have been working on a deal over the past few weeks, with talks expected to ‘accelerate’ sooner rather than later. It is suggested that Torreira will sign a four-year contract with Fiorentina, whilst Arsenal are expected to receive €15m (£12.8m) for his services.
That fee will represent a considerable loss for the Gunners having paid Sampdoria for a reported £26m back in the summer of 2018 but with just one year remaining on his deal at the Emirates Stadium, it is a fair amount for Arsenal to kick-off their summer rebuild. Mikel Arteta is expected to pursue a number of players in the summer window, with the Gunners needing recruits in both attack and midfield ahead of next season.
Torreira, 26, made 50 appearances in all competitions during his first season at the Emirates Stadium but rapidly fell out of favour once Unai Emery was sacked. He joined Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan last season, winning the La Liga crown under Diego Simeone.
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The Spanish giants did not elect to bring him back to the Wanda Metropolitano, leading to his move to Fiorentina. Torreira himself has already been talking up a permanent move to Italy.
Speaking to Sky Italia in March, the Uruguayan said: “I have rediscovered my joy both on and off the pitch. My future doesn’t depend on me, because Arsenal still own my contract. I am sure they will reach an agreement.”
Meanwhile, Arteta urged calm from the midfielder as he attempted to plot a route out of the Emirates Stadium towards the back-end of his loan spell in Madrid. He said: "We have contacted him, we have spoken to him. We know how much of a difficult time this is for him.
"He was really attached to his mum and with his family and it's a hard time for him emotionally. There is a lot of thoughts and things that goes through his mind but... 'tranquilo' when things are like that, it is not the moment to make decisions.
"I understand how he's feeling emotionally, his need and responsibility to be closer to his family but this is not the moment to make any decision. Certainly it's a decision that will have to be made by different parties and now nothing is going to change."
