Arsenal have wasted no time in moving on from Jack Wilshere’s departure by closing in on a £26.3million deal for Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira.
Wilshere confirmed on Tuesday in an emotional Instagram post that he would be leaving the Gunners after 17 years, having failed to receive assurances from new head coach Unai Emery over his role in the team.
Prior to the Spaniard’s appointment, he had indicated he would sign a new deal.
However, Emery is keen to reshape Arsenal’s midfield without him and Torreira, currently at the World Cup with Uruguay, looks set to be at the heart of his new-look side after Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero claimed a transfer had been finalised.
“Torreira has left for €30m [£26.3m],” he told Italian television station TMW. “I bought him from Pescara when nobody believed in him. We took a gamble on him and we won, paying just £2.75m.”
Lucas Torreira is set to join Arsenal from Sampdoria.
Wilshere, 26, will spend the coming days assessing his options, with a host of clubs expressing an interest, both at home and abroad.
Crystal Palace registered their interest earlier this week, joining Everton, Southampton and Wolves among several Premier League sides keen on snapping him up.