Arsenal reportedly interested in Inter Milan wingback Federico Dimarco

Arsenal are interested in signing Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco, according to recent reports

The Gunners are keen to sign a fullback this summer, football.london understands, with Bologna star Aaron Hickey one name that the club are monitoring. Nuno Tavares endured a difficult debut campaign at the Emirates Stadium following a £6million move from Benfica and some reports have even claimed that the north Londoners are keen to move the Portuguese youngster on just 12 months after signing him.

Now, The Sun have claimed that Mikel Arteta likes Inter wingback Dimarco, although Inter’s £20million valuation of the Italian could prove to be too expensive for a player that would likely deputies for first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney. Dimarco enjoyed a solid season with the Nerazzurri, registering a whopping 0.33 xA (expected assists) per 90 minutes in Serie A, as per fbref.

Read more: Arsenal ‘interested’ in signing ‘next Thomas Partey’ following Josh Kroenke’s transfer admission

For comparison, no Arsenal player managed more than 0.22 xA per 90 last term. Manchester City’s Olexandr Zinchenko is another fullback that has been linked with a move to the Gunners in recent times and the Ukrainian’s ability to play in midfield could add some much-needed versatility to Arteta’s squad.

Zinchenko was pivotal during the City’s Premier League title-clinching 3-2 win against Aston Villa last Sunday and the 25-year-old made it no secret how much he loves the City faithful. “It [the support] means everything to me,” he said.

“I want to die for these people. For all this support, because of what people gave me, what they have done for me during this period, the toughest period of my life, I am so appreciative. I will never forget this. Never in my life.”