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Arsenal set to miss out on Argentine wonderkid as £16m move to Italy edges closer

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Image for Arsenal set to miss out on Argentine wonderkid as £16m move to Italy edges closer

Inter Milan looked to have beaten a host of clubs to the signing of Racing Club striker Lautaro Martinez, with the club’s president confirming that a $22m (£16m) move to the Italian club could be finalised “next week.”

Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool  and a number of other teams had been monitoring the Argentine Under 20 international but Inter have been favourites for a while, with negotiations intensifying over the past few days.

Speaking to Radio La Red in Argentina (quotes via Football-Italia.net), Racing Club president Victor Blanco said:

“Next week we’ll try to finalise the remaining details and conclude the sale of Lautaro Martinez. We have not yet defined his price-tag. The offer we have today is $22m.”

Martinez’s agent confirmed last year that the Gunners had asked for scouting reports on the striker. The teenager has subsequently risen to prominence in the Argentinian Primeira Division.

Despite missing the start of the season with a broken metatarsal, the 20 year old has scored seven goals in eight league games this campaign. In his last outing, he scored a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Huracan, cementing his reputation as one of the most promising young players in South America.

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