ARSENAL could recall Lucas Torreira from his loan at Atletico Madrid – and send him to Monaco.
The Uruguayan midfielder is struggling for game time over in Spain after leaving Arsenal temporarily in summer.
Lucas Torreira could swap Atletico Madrid for MonacoCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
Torreira has started just TWO LaLiga games, coming off the bench in another seven.
Valencia were believed to be interested in the 24-year-old, but it appears a move to France is now on the cards.
According to AS, the Principality club maintains good relations with Atletico ‘that could help accelerate the move’.
Arsenal are happy to let Torreira out for the rest of the season, with the ball now in Atletico’s court.
But it is reported that the Spaniards ‘would prefer not to let the player go’ having a small squad and the coronavirus pandemic hitting finances.
Torreira was used as bait by the Gunners in their pursuit of Thomas Partey as he headed in the opposite direction for the campaign.
But the move has not worked out too well for the 26-cap Uruguay international.
Florence-based newspaper La Nazione recently claimed that Fiorentina have reignited their interest in Torreira.
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The Serie A side want the star, who moved to the Emirates in 2018 from Sampdoria, on loan for the second part of the season.
The tough tackler’s father Ricardo recently took a dig at Gunners boss Mikel Arteta when saying his son could return to Arsenal but only to play under a coach ‘who loves him’.
He said: “Lucas has a huge heart and puts a lot of effort into everything he does.
“That’s why he’s not one of the players who likes to be on the bench waiting for minutes.
“He needs to show what he can give on the pitch. He’s encouraged with the game. And that happened at Arsenal.
“Lucas is honest and wants to leave his soul on the pitch, but that is defined by the coaches and for the current Arsenal manager he didn’t count.”
Mikel Arteta seems happy to let Torreira out for the seasonCredit: Reuters
He added: “Lucas wasn’t on the bench because he wanted to be there, but by decision of his coach.
“For a 24-year-old boy, recognised in Uruguay and around the world, the most necessary thing is to play.
“Arsenal decided that he wouldn’t have minutes, but we promise, God willing, if everything goes well and if there’s a coach at Arsenal who loves him when his contract with Atletico ends, he’ll leave his soul there again if they want him.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
