Arsenal are considering a move for Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira this summer, according to reports in Italy.

Calciomercato and Tuttomercatoweb have both now written about Arsenal interest in the Sampdoria 22-year-old. He had a great season with the Serie A club, so much so that he earned a place in Uruguay’s World Cup squad.

For the most part, that earned him interest from other Italian clubs. Calciomercato write that Arsenal are the ‘most interested’ Premier League team now though, and they’re ‘ready to undermine’ their Serie A counterparts. Raul Sanllehi is reportedly a great admirer of Torreira, and believes he fits the Arsenal philosophy perfectly.

Tuttomercatoweb write that Arsenal have now made first contact with Sampdoria over the player, and will seek an agreement ‘in the coming weeks’. He has a €25m (£21.9m) release clause.

The defensive midfielder made 38 appearances for his club this season, with 37 starts. He scored four goals and added one assist, but his main strengths come at the other end. Torreira intercepts the ball regularly, he’s strong in the tackle, rarely loses his concentration, and isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to make a block.

The Sampdoria man is good in possession as well, and can take a decent set-piece. The only drawback is in the air, where he won’t win many aerial duels, at around 5’6″. That never stopped N’Golo Kante being a Premier League success though, or Santi Cazorla.