The manager of newly promoted Serie A side, Crotone, Ivan Juric, believes that his forward, Ante Budimir, is not ready to make a step-up to a ‘top club’ like Arsenal with the Gunners apparently interested in signing the 24-year-old.

If we’re honest, the first we’d heard about this rumour was when Juric spoke about it, but speak about it he did.

As reported by Gianlucadimarzio.com, Juric said “I do not think that he is ready for a top club like Inter or Arsenal. He has everything to improve, but for now he needs to do a couple of years as a starter in Serie A at a club of lower rank.”

CROTONE, ITALY - APRIL 23: Ante Budimir (R) of Crotone competes for the ball with Andrea Marconi of Como during the Serie B match between FC Crotone and Como Calcio at Stadio Comunale Ezio Scida on April 23, 2016 in Crotone, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
CROTONE, ITALY – APRIL 23: Ante Budimir (R) of Crotone competes for the ball with Andrea Marconi of Como during the Serie B match between FC Crotone and Como Calcio at Stadio Comunale Ezio Scida on April 23, 2016 in Crotone, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Crotone sealed promotion from Serie B by finishing second behind Cagliari by just a single point. Formed in 1910, this small club went bankrupt in 1979 and 1991 and only made it into Serie B in 2000/01.

Budimir scored 16 goals and grabbed our assists in 40 Serie B games last season, averaging around 80 minutes per game.

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A left-footed Croatian, Budimir is under contract until June 2019 and has a reported market value of £900k.

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