Inter want more than €100m for Esposito amid Arsenal interest

Credit: Getty Images

Arsenal are considering a move for Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito, but Inter Milan are reportedly holding out for a fee well above €100 million for the young forward, according to Sport Witness.

Esposito has been on Arsenal's radar for some time, with scouts having tracked his progress since an impressive loan spell at Spezia, where he first showed his goalscoring instincts. He has since established himself at Inter alongside Lautaro Martinez, raising his profile further across Europe.

Gyokeres struggles behind the interest

The reported interest comes amid growing concerns over Viktor Gyokeres, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium with a reputation as one of Europe's most prolific strikers but has struggled to find consistent form since his move. Arsenal are said to be considering their long-term options up front, with the club potentially open to selling Gyokeres at the end of the season should his performances not improve.

Esposito, by contrast, represents a younger alternative with significant room to develop. Arsenal reportedly see his profile as one that could suit their attacking plans going forward, though turning that interest into a deal would not come cheap.

Inter's valuation a major obstacle

According to Sport Witness, Inter Milan consider Esposito a key part of their future plans and are reluctant to sell at any price close to Arsenal's usual spending levels. The Serie A club are said to value the striker at well over €100 million, a figure that would require Arsenal to break their transfer record if they wanted to pursue a serious offer.

Such a valuation would make negotiations difficult from the outset, particularly given Inter's stated reluctance to part with a player they view as central to their long-term plans. Arsenal would need to carefully weigh whether committing that level of investment in a still-developing forward represents the right use of resources compared to other potential targets.

For now, Esposito remains a player of interest rather than an active target, with no indication that a formal approach has been made. Whether Arsenal decide to escalate their interest will likely depend on how the current forward line performs over the rest of the season, and whether Inter's stance on a potential sale softens at any point.