Arsenal are reportedly one of the first clubs to have enquired about a potential transfer for Monza striker Gustavo Varela, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola. The 21-year-old has scored nine goals in his opening nine Serie A appearances this season, attracting interest from several European clubs.
Varela's Rise at Monza
Varela was deemed surplus to requirements at Benfica and joined newly promoted Monza in the summer for a fee of just €2 million (£1.7m), plus performance-related bonuses. Monza currently sit 18th in Serie A with only two wins, but Varela has been a standout performer.
His form in Lombardy has drawn attention from Barcelona, Napoli, and Arsenal, with the report claiming Arsenal are among a host of Premier League clubs to have expressed an interest and are 'one of the first to enquire' about his availability.
Transfer Fee and Contract Details
Monza have set an asking price in the region of €40-50 million (£33-42m) for Varela, though that sum could rise if he receives his first senior Portugal call-up. Benfica did not insert a buy-back clause in the deal but are entitled to 20 per cent of any future transfer fee and hold the right of first refusal.
Varela, named the Serie A Rising Star of the Month for October, has a contract with Monza running through to June 2030.
Arsenal's Striker Search
Arsenal are reportedly in the market for a striker of Varela's profile, with Viktor Gyokeres struggling since his £64m arrival from Sporting last year. Gyokeres has made just one Premier League start and is yet to score in the English top flight, with Mikel Arteta favouring Kai Havertz as the focal point of the attack.
However, Gyokeres delivered a strong display in the Champions League on Wednesday, scoring and assisting in a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague. Arteta praised his performance, saying, 'I thought he was really good. It was a game we believed would be really good for him, for the demands the opponent puts in and the spaces he could use. He's done it really well, not just for the assist and the goal, but he was really connected to the team. It's really great news for him, because he really needed that performance.'
Rumours over potential attacking additions at Arsenal are likely to continue as long as Gyokeres' performances fail to improve in north London.
