Arsenal Transfer Rumor: Gunners planning to snap up Marco Verratti

Verratti in action against Arsenal in the Champions League

Arsenal have set their sights on PSG midfielder, Marco Verratti, as a winter recruit to bolster their chances in all competitions. Arsene Wenger plans to strengthen his midfield and is eyeing the Italian as a suitable fit for the English club.

Sources tell us that the London outfit are willing to go as far as £35 to £40 million in a bid to land the tenacious midfielder. Wenger is hoping to increase the work-rate in the middle of the park and feels that the Italian will fit in seamlessly. The player wouldn’t need much to be lured to England, especially after recent reports have emerged that the player has fallen out with manager Unai Emery.

On the 23rd of October, PSG faced Marseille and Verratti was subbed off around the 59th minute. The 23-year old was furious with the decision and confronted the manager. “What is this? Am I bad? Did I say something bad?”, bellowed the Italian.

Unai Emery tried to play down the situation with the press but word has emerged that their relationship has been strained for a while now.

Rumours have been fueled ever since then, and the Gunners are expected to be the front-runners. They're hoping to use the Italian as a potential replacement for Santi Cazorla, who will be out of contract at the end of the year. If not January, a move in the summer is likely. 

Verratti will have friends if he moves to England, especially with ex-team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic plying his trade at Manchester United. “Zlatan was a player who has been very, very important for the club and he did a lot to build Paris Saint-Germain around the world and if they won a lot then it was largely thanks to him,” said the Italian.

“He’s a great player and I think he will carry on and continue to do well. When I was playing with Ibra we talked a lot. We both wanted to win. So when we were playing we worked together.”

PSG are currently fourth in Ligue 1, and sit 4 points behind champions Nice. Recent reports suggested that the French giants planned to replace manager Emery with former Manchester City manager Mancini. If that was to go through, no one knows how it would affect the Verratti situation. An Italian at the helm would be a step in the right direction to keep a hold of their star midfielder.

More to follow...