Arsenal have quality midfielders like Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in their ranks but all have struggled to cope with the injuries throughout their career. And now, looking to the future, a report coming out of Italy claims Arsene Wenger is eyeing Marco Verratti of PSG as potentially crucial to their rebuilding.
Italian website tuttomarcetoweb.com report that Wenger is looking at the central midfielder and his interest may become concrete in the summer.
Verratti, 21, is an Italian international, who has made 28 appearances for PSG this season, starring against Chelsea last week. The talented youngster has been running the show at the Parc des Princes this season, and is the heir to Pirlo’s throne as the heartbeat of the Italy side.
The youngster is also a target of Manchester United and reports emerged during the January transfer window that David Moyes is lining up a bid for Verratti and his team mate Blaise Matuidi.
Marco started his career within his local club Pescara’s youth programme. When Verratti began playing for the flagship team in 2009, his club was in Lega Pro 1 (3rd tier). Following promotion, Marco then spent 2 seasons as a regular starter for the club in Serie B. In his short spell at Pescara, Verratti had made his reputation all around the country.
On 18 July 2012, Verratti, ignoring the interest of the like of Juventus, Roma and AC Milan, signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1. He went on to make 39 appearances during the 2012-13 season, playing a key role in PSG’s Champions League campaign, playing 9 games.
In the victory over Chelsea, Verratti had a game-high 106 touches of the ball, completing 93 per cent of his passes and recording five successful dribbles.
However, Verratti faces competition for his place at PSG from Thiago Motta, Yohan Cabaye, and Blaise Matuidi, and while he has a contract until 2018 at the club, should the French champions make a move for Paul Pogba in the summer, Verratti could become expendable for financial and sporting reasons.
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