Arsenal Become Frontrunners for Lucas Torreira After Napoli Deal Collapses

Serie A club ​Napoli have reportedly ended talks with Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira, following excessive wage demands from the player's agent.

The 22-year-old scored 4 goals and created one assist in 36 appearances for the Italian club, who finished in mid-table last season. His strengths are largely defensive, with a strong ability to intercept opposition passes, break-up play and complete long, accurate passes.

According to Football Italia, Gli Azzurri had agreed to pay the €25 million release clause for the Uruguayan international and were in advanced stages of contract negotiations, when Arsenal made a competing bid.

This turn of events prompted the player's agent to increase wage demands, reportedly asking for €3 million a year. This figure is double the wage of Napoli's star player Jorginho, ​who is rumoured to be making a €53 million move to Manchester City.

With Napoli rumoured to have lost interest in the player, Arsenal are now likely to be favourites to secure the young man's signature, ​providing much excitement for the followers of the Gunners, who are in the market for a new, young defensive midfielder.

The Uruguayan prospect will feature for his country in the World Cup later this week, having been named in the 23-man squad and will be hoping to appear in La Celeste's opening game against Egypt this Friday.

In his 36 matches in ​Serie A last season, Torreira scored four goals and added one assist, but, given his position as a defensive midfielder, it was his work in the trenches that was key to helping Sampdoria achieve a 10th-placed finished in the top flight of Italian football.