Arsenal target has ‘very big’ contract offer from Italian side
Arsenal striker target Andrea Belotti has a ‘very big’ contract offer from Torino, according to club president Urbano Cairo.
Belotti played six times for Italy at Euro 2020 as the Azzurri won the tournament for the second time.
His performances led to rumours of a Premier League move. The 27-year-old also managed 13 goals in 35 games during last season’s Serie A campaign.
F365 Says: Gratuitous Kounde could hinder Chelsea title tilt
But Torino are desperate to keep hold of their star player. As a result, they will offer him a major new deal to ward off interest from Arsenal, once he returns from holiday.
Speaking about Belotti, Cairo told Tuttomercatoweb (via Goal): “When he returns, then we’ll talk to him.
“We have already made him a proposal that is very big for our financial capabilities.
“After that, if he does not accept the offer, then we will evaluate other things. I don’t like to negotiate via the newspapers, but I will say we made an important offer.
“We’ll see what happens, we have a month to close a deal or do something else.”
Belotti’s current contract, which is worth around £68,000 a week, runs until June 2022.
That means the Italian outfit will have to consider selling him this summer if he refuses to sign a new deal.
Otherwise, they risk losing him for free next year under the Bosman ruling.
Arsenal are monitoring the situation and could submit an offer in the next few months.
They view Belotti as a great replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, should the Frenchman leave for Atletico Madrid.
Belotti has previously caught the attention of Everton during their search for a new striker.
But with Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing, it’s unlikely that the Toffees will make a bid any time soon.
The striker started his career with Serie C outfit UC AlbinoLeffe. He was snapped up by Palermo on loan in 2013 before they made his move permanent the following year.
Belotti managed 16 goals in 64 games for the Rosanero. He made the step up to Torino in August 2015, signing for a £7.6million fee.
He’s since reached 105 goals for the club and is seventh on their list of all-time top scorers.