Arsenal are ready to step up their interest in securing the services of Novara winger Alessio Da Cruz. Some sources in the English press are claiming that the Gunners have gained some ground ahead of Liverpool in pursuit of the youngster’s signature. Arsenal has already held talks with the Dutch starlet’s representatives and are ready to finalise a deal with his club Novara. The 20-year-old winger has caught the eye with his performances for the Serie B club in this campaign which has seen him score five times in 12 starts.
Da Cruz joined Serie B club Novara from FC Twente in the summer and his eye-catching displays have gathered the interest of some of Europe’s elite clubs. It is being reported that Serie A giants Inter Milan have enquired about the Dutch sensation along with Liverpool, but it is the Gunners who have raced ahead and now leading the chase for the services of the attacking midfielder.
According to a report in Sky Italia, the North Londoners have met with the representatives of Da Cruz in the past week and are hoping to grind out a deal to bring the Novara star at the Emirates Stadium and play in the Premier League next summer.
He was tracked at the mere age of 10 by AFC Ajax before he was transferred to Almere City and Twente, where he graduated from the first team. The ex FC Dordrecht midfielder has played in 36 matches for FC Twente’s U-19 and U-21 sides where he netted 13 times and made two assists. His excellent displays at youth level earned him a call-up for the first-team at Twente but he struggled to keep up the same level of form and only managed to feature in four games for the FC Twente senior team.
Following his move to Novara Calcio 1908, the Dutch winger has made 18 appearances for the Italian second tier club scoring five goals and making two assists. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made a habit of giving his young talents a chance as evidenced by the emergence of Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin in the Gunners starting line up over the past few seasons.
Da Cruz is highly versatile and can operate in either flank or in a more central attacking role and Wenger can definitely use someone of his ability going into the future if they are able to finalise the deal with Novara for his signature.
