Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly both interested in signing Udinese striker Lorenzo Lucca.
The current Premier League top two could both look to strengthen in the final third ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Arsenal are in need of a new number nine after seeing their lack of forward options exposed by injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s search for attacking reinforcements could depend on which players leave the club in the summer transfer window.
Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have all been linked with moves away, while Mohamed Salah is out of contract at the end of the season.
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Arsenal, Liverpool targeting Lucca
With Arsenal and Liverpool on the lookout for new additions, Messaggero Veneto are reporting that the Premier League giants are both showing an interest in Udinese’s Lucca.
The report claims that the Serie A club will demand €30m (£25m) plus a bonus to consider selling Lucca in the summer transfer window.
However, Arsenal and Liverpool are not the only clubs believed to be keeping a close eye on the Italy international.
Nottingham Forest are also in the running for his signature, while he has also been ‘sounded out’ by Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
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Who is Lorenzo Lucca?
The 24-year-old represented Vicenza, Torino, Palermo and Pisa, before he spent time on loan with Dutch giants Ajax.
Lucca joined Udinese on a season-long loan deal in 2023, scoring eight goals in 37 Serie A appearances before he was confirmed as a permanent addition last summer.
The striker has gone on to score 10 goals in 28 top-flight matches during the current campaign, although he made headlines when he was involved in a bust-up with several of his teammates in last month’s win over Lecce.
Lucca took over penalty duties from Udinese’s designated taker Florian Thauvin, and while he scored the first-half spot-kick, he was quickly taken off by head coach Kosta Runjaic.
However, the penalty fracas has not harmed Lucca’s place in the side, given the fact he started all three league matches following the win over Lecce.
Lucca was recently involved in Italy’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie against Germany, featuring as a late substitute in both legs of the 5-4 aggregate defeat.
