Arsenal on alert as club set £27m asking price for Portuguese assist maker

Inter Milan are set to make attacking midfielder Joao Mario available for €30m (£27m) in the January transfer window, according to Tuttosport (via TMW).

Arsenal were linked with the 24 year old by the Italia media earlier this year when it was speculated that the Portuguese international could be used in a part exchange deal for Mesut Ozil.

Mario signed for the Nerazzurri in a £36m deal back in August last year, but has failed to live up to expectations despite starting off his second season in Italian football with a lot of promise.

Under new manager Luciano Spalletti, the playmaker started three of the first five league games of the season, providing three assists in the process. However, he hasn’t started a match since the 1-1 draw against Bologna back in September when he was taken off after 50 minutes. He has played just 27 minutes over the past month, with Spanish veteran Borja Valero having replaced him in the number 10 position.