Arsenal are reportedly interested in Sporting right-back, Cristiano Piccini.
Arsenal and West Ham are both interested in signing Piccini despite him only agreeing a five-year deal with Sporting in July, claims Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sapo Desporto).
The 25-year-old has impressed during the opening stages of Sporting’s season, helping the club to go unbeaten in Primeira Liga. They’ve won six matches and drawn two out of eight, and have only conceded four goals.
Piccini has played 90 minutes in all but one of these unbeaten league matches – nabbing himself an assist against Vitória Guimarães SC – as well as twice in the Champions League.
The Italian is yet to receive a call-up for his country’s senior squad but represented them at an u21 level back in August 2013. However, with his recent success, perhaps Gian Piero Ventura will change his mind.
The full-back came through the ranks at Fiorentina and was sent out on loan four times. The fourth and final time was to Betis, where he made a permanent move to in 2015.
Given that Carl Jenkinson, who’s currently sidelined with a dislocated shoulder while on loan at Birmingham, and Mathieu Debuchy look set to leave Arsenal soon, perhaps Piccini would be a decent replacement.