Latest developments
- Atalanta's Mateo Retegui is a transfer target for Arsenal.
- The Argentina-born Italian has scored 12 goals in 13 Serie A matches this season.
- La Dea signed him for €22 million, but want €45 million for the striker.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (3/5): Source seems close to club
Arsenal want to add a new centre-forward to their ranks in the form of Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, on the back of the Italian international's blistering start to the season, adding two UEFA Champions League goals last night to the 12 he already has in Serie A.
That is the word of Italian site calciomercato.com, transfer market specialists whose sources are supposedly close to the selling club.
Value (3.5/5): Reasonable price despite increase
That is because the story mentions Atalanta's asking price, €45 million, just over double what the UEFA Europa League winners paid Genoa for him in August, €22 million, as cover for Gianluca Scamacca.
It has been a sharp rise for the Italian born and raised in Argentina, who was playing for Tigre as recently as 2023, but under €50 million for a striker in such form will still seem reasonable to the Gunners.
Suitability (4/5): Clearly defined role
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have been playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation with a centre-forward for many seasons now, thus the role for 25-year-old Retegui will be clear. At 1.86m, he is not the tallest, but that will not be an issue for how Arsenal like to attack the box.
Upgrade? (4/5): A proper centre-forward
Arsenal have been playing a centre-forward without – in many people's eyes – actually playing a centre-forward. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have been shoehorned in, but debate still rages over whether they are better deployed further back or out wide.
Retegui may not be as technically gifted as them, but at least he is a specialist in that position.
Logic (3/5): Too much too soon?
Still in his infancy in his time in Europe, his time at Atalanta and in the Champions League, Retegui may feel it is too soon to make another huge leap forward in his career. With only seven league goals for Genoa last season, it has taken him time to settle into Serie A life.
However, aged 25, he may not get many more opportunities to challenge for Premier League titles, and why not take a chance that would have seemed impossible a couple of years ago?
Whisper+ verdict: 17.5/25
Down the years, not too many Italian strikers have been successful outside Italy. Arsenal should be cautious of that, though €45 million might be low enough for them to gamble, yet Retegui might be much happier sticking with his current lot.
