Arsenal left in the cold as Italian club jump in on £13m defender move

Daniele Rugani is reportedly valued at £13m

ARSENAL will struggle to sign defensive target Daniele Rugani after Sampdoria officials met with the Juventus player’s representatives yesterday, reports claim.

 

The Gunners are understood to be keen on £13million centre-back Rugani, who joined Italian champions Juve from Empoli this summer.

So far he has had almost no game time, leading to reports Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri would seek to sell him come January.

 

Manchester United were also said to be keen but Arsenal were deemed to be leading the race to sign him.

But Sampdoria’s fresh interest in the 21-year-old is likely to scupper the deal, claim Sportitalia.

Rugani’s agent Davide Torchia has held talks with Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero plus their sporting director Carlo Osti and club lawyer Antonio Romei in Milan.

 

Juve are keen on retaining the Italy international in the long term but appear open to letting him leave on loan.

Arsenal will only countenance a permanent switch as manager Arsene Wenger seeks to strengthen his squad not just for this season but for the future.

Wenger, it is claimed, would not go for a six-month loan unless Arsenal suffer a injury crisis at the back.

As for Rugani, the youngster’s sole outing in a Juve shirt has been as a last-minute substitute in their 2-0 Champions League victory over Sevilla.