Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori
A striker who scores while a champion’s scout is in the stand goes on a list. The list is not a bid. January and next summer are both still open.
Clubs that failed to sign a centre-forward in the last window watch internationals for a reason. One goal and an assist in the same game is a clean note. It is still one game.
Interest that might firm up in 2027 is the cautious version of a rumour. The player has to keep scoring until then.
We understand Pio Esposito is the latest striker to be watched by Arsenal. Scouts were in attendance as the Italy forward scored and assisted in a 4-1 win over Turkey.
He has two goals and an assist in five Serie A games this season. The Gunners are in the market for a new attacker ahead of the January transfer window. The club added Christos Tzolis to their ranks but Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard all went the other way, leaving a hole in the squad.
Inter Milan forward Francesco Pio Esposito
Inter Milan forward Francesco Pio Esposito
Viktor Gyokeres has had very few minutes, and there is a sense he might be allowed to leave. Kai Havertz is back with a muscle strain. Christos Tzolis is facing about 20 days with a hamstring. That is the short-term hole. Esposito is being filed as a longer one.
Arsenal have previously been linked with Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Nicolo Tresoldi. The Turkey game also let them watch Arda Guler. None of those are January agreements.
Freiburg’s Igor Matanovic is the other forward they have watched. He has six goals and two assists this season. Manchester United and Chelsea are also looking, that a summer valuation of £30million has risen to £50million, and that he would be open to England.
A source said: “Matanovic looks like someone who’s really ready to explode this season. He’s 23 now, entering his prime, and he knows clubs have been looking at him. He’d be open to moving to England if the offers come in.”
Bournemouth have already said they will not sell Eli Junior Kroupi in January. Esposito has no published fee and no reported talks. Watching him score for Italy puts him on a radar that already has too many names and not enough agreements. Leeds on Saturday will be played without Tzolis. A Serie A striker scouted in October does not fill that place. A 2027 deal might, if the goals continue and Gyokeres’s minutes do not.