Mikel Arteta demands €100m Arsenal signing

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is demanding the signing of Inter forward Francesco Pio Esposito, according to Italian media.

Speculation surrounding the Italy international continues unabated. Ever since FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Arsenal are interested in Pio Esposito, there have been almost daily updates on the young striker.

We understand that Arsenal view him as the perfect backup striker and would love to bring him in after this season. However, Inter are unwilling to do business as they believe Pio Esposito is the future of their club.

The Italian press has reported that the Nerazzurri are planning to hand the 20-year-old a new contract with a significant pay increase to tie him to the club long-term.

Just to get Inter to even consider selling Pio Esposito, it would likely have to take an offer in the region of €100 million. It seems doubtful that Arsenal would be willing to put that much money on the table, but they appear undeterred by the Serie A leaders’ clear not-for-sale stance.

Arteta demands Pio Esposito signing

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has demanded that Pio Esposito. This prompted Andrea Berta to pick up the phone and make a formal enquiry for the striker at Inter.

However, the answer the Italian received from his compatriots was unambiguous: Pio Esposito is not available. Berta was told that there is no chance of a deal. The 20-year-old could become the face of Inter and still has four years left on his current deal.

Inter are unperturbed by Arsenal’s interest and the potential lure of the Premier League because Pio Esposito has shown no signs that he could be tempted into leaving the club.

His relationship with Inter is excellent. It was head coach Cristian Chivu who specifically requested that the youngster be kept around the first team instead of being loaned out again last summer.

Pio Esposito is appreciative of the faith the coach has shown in him, and with a raise on the horizon, it seems highly unlikely that he would agitate for a move away, regardless of how persistent Arsenal are with their approaches.

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