If recent reports are to be believed then Arsenal have submitted a record fee for Torino striker Andrea Belotti recently, as reports of Alexis Sanchez leaving the club increase every week. Arsenal have struggled hugely to score in big games and they believe the Italian striker can put them on the right track.
The Gunners have reportedly tabled a bid of £43.2 million for the striker after failing in their previous attempt in the winter. Belotti has been one of the hottest prospects in the upcoming summer transfer window with clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Napoli and many more willing to land him.
And given Arsenal’s history in the transfer market, they aren’t likely to win the race against the European supergiants by any means. The one scenario, where it is possible would be the departure of Sanchez, which is expected to fetch the North London club huge money and just might facilitate Belotti’s arrival.
However, given Torino’s hold on the player’s current situation, even that might be a problem. In a recent interview, Torino president Urbano Cairo made it crystal clear that the club won’t accept offers from outside lower than the striker’s buyout clause.
Cairo said recently, “If I had to insert a figure in his contract right now I would go for €150 million…. We will have to wait and see whether a team is willing to pay €100 million. I hope not because I want to keep him here. We are just enjoying him and his goals for now.”
And Torino has all the reasons to demand such a fee. The 23-year-old has netted 22 goals this season so far and holds the mantle of the Serie A top scorer at the moment ahead of AS Roma’s Edin Dzeko and Napoli’s Dries Mertens. If there wasn’t any excitement around his displays already, his magnificent hat-trick against Palermo earlier this month has taken it to next level. Belotti has now scored 10 goals in Torino’s last 10 games, out of which he went without scoring in four of them.
A centre-forward by nature, Belotti is extremely similar to that of Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez. His unparalleled work rate on and off the ball and immense tenacity to chase defenders blended with immaculate finishing make him the ideal replacement for the Chilean.
Napoli has reportedly even offered cash plus an exchange of their striker Leonardo Pavoletti as part of the deal. Belotti’s buyout clause of £86.5m, which is applicable for foreign clubs. But, Torino are currently in the 10th position of the Serie A table and no matter how hard they want to keep him, they can never fulfil Belotti’s European dreams.
