D’Ippolito confirms Arsenal bid

According to Abel Hernandez’s agent, Arsenal had shown interest in the Palermo star last summer, with a reported £15 million bid rejected.

Four goals in his 13 Serie A appearances, coupled with his overall performances, are clearly the reasons why the 21-year-old has popped up on Chelsea and Roma’s radar. Reports also suggest that Vicenzo D’Ippolito has not budged from the asking price.

This is a player Arsene Wenger could have surely afforded after the big money transfers of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. The Frenchman did eventually spend a large portion of that cash in the course of the transfer period and also tried to land Hernandez, but the deal fell through.

D’Ippolito was quoted on talkSPORT.com:

‘Last summer Arsenal bid for the boy. It was for 18m Euros but the club rejected. Wenger wanted him after the departure of Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, but could not close the deal.

‘Now there are rumours that Roma are interested in him but there is a minimum price established by Palermo and the president will not bring it down.’

Another young player, certainly not one I would have wanted to see come in as a supposed replacement for Cesc or Samir. Both of them were ready-made players, and that is something we needed at the time to come in.

Personally, I say let the other clubs fight it out for him. I feel there are more experienced players out there who have the quality and ambition to play for a club of Arsenal’s stature.

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