Arsenal could compete with Napoli to sign Monza striker Gustavo Varela, according to Tuttomercatoweb journalist Niccolo Ceccarini.
The Portuguese joined the promoted Serie A side from Benfica for just £2.1 million last summer and has already made a huge impression.
Varela has netted an impressive nine goals in eight appearances in all competitions, which has grabbed the eye of elite European clubs.
Napoli are the prime suitors from Serie A, but they could face competition, with several Premier League clubs making moves for the 21-year-old.
Ceccarini highlights that ‘Arsenal above all’ are interested in landing the ‘complete’ forward, who has taken Serie A by storm this campaign.
Benfica don’t have a buyback clause in the player’s contract, but have matching rights as well as a 20 percent sell-on clause on a future fee.
Monza seem unlikely to entertain a mid-season exit for the young marksman.
Varela speculation could be agent-driven
Varela made just one senior appearance for Benfica. He spent last season on loan at Gil Vicente, where he scored seven goals and provided three assists in 33 games.
He has already matched that tally with Monza this term. The striker has netted nine goals with a solitary assist. Eight of those goal contributions have come in Serie A.
Varela has been hugely effective, converting 44 percent of his shots into goals, but it is still a small sample size to judge that he can succeed at the top level consistently.
The Portuguese is fairly decent with his distribution and mobility, but has been poor in winning duels with a success rate of just 31 percent in the early part of the season.
We believe the current speculation linking him with Arsenal could be agent-driven. The Gunners may have monitored him, but they are unlikely to rush a transfer decision.
If Varela can sustain his form throughout the league campaign and reach the 20-goal mark, for example, Arsenal could discuss internally whether to make a formal approach.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com