Arsenal eyeing Serie A's hottest young striker for next summer
A striker who has scored eight goals in his first seven Serie A appearances is already on Arsenal's radar, with the north London club keeping tabs on Monza's Gustavo Varela ahead of a potential summer move.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal are among several European sides tracking the 21 year old Portuguese forward, with Napoli and what the report describes as 'all of Serie A's top sides' also keeping an eye on his situation.
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Varela joined Monza from Benfica this past summer for just €2.5million (£2.1million) after impressing for the Portuguese club's B team. He managed 15 goals last season and is already over halfway to that tally in Italy despite the step up to senior football, with braces against Cagliari and Sassuolo among his eight strikes so far.
Benfica buyback clause complicates any move
Any interested club, Arsenal included, may find their path blocked by Benfica. Portuguese outlet Record reports that Varela's former club inserted a buyback clause worth €9.5million (£8million) into the deal, a safeguard put in place precisely for a scenario like this given the striker made just one senior appearance before leaving.
That clause can reportedly be activated at the end of the season. Even if Benfica choose not to exercise it, they retain a 20% sell on fee in Varela's contract, which could still push Monza to demand a higher fee from any suitor.
Varela has yet to earn a senior Portugal cap but has scored 10 goals in 28 appearances across the various youth levels. His only notable fitness issue to date was an adductor injury that cost him one Serie A game and a Coppa Italia tie, a detail that may factor into Arsenal's thinking given the attacking injuries Mikel Arteta has already dealt with this season.
Attack reshaped after summer departures
Arsenal added Christos Tzolis to their forward line in the summer, but also sold Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, moves that have arguably left the position shorter in depth. Tzolis is himself currently working his way back from injury, though he is said to be close to a return.
Varela has so far only played as a out and out centre forward, a detail that could have consequences for Viktor Gyokeres or Kai Havertz further down the line if a move for the Monza striker were to materialise. Gyokeres would be viewed as the more likely of the two to depart, though he showed his continued value with a clever assist for Declan Rice in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich.
With Benfica's buyback clause looming over any deal, Arsenal's interest in Varela remains at an early stage, and significant hurdles stand between the club and a move for the 21 year old.
