Arsenal are reportedly readying a £35.4m bid for Juventus centre-back, Daniele Rugani.

With Rugani struggling for game time at Juventus this season, Arsenal and Manchester United have both reportedly set their sites on the 23-year-old.

Max Allegri’s first choice centre-back Mehdi Benatia is currently in fine form, which led the Juve boss to bench Rugani. In total, the Italy international has featured 10 times in Serie A this term. However, he’s yet to be selected since the Old Lady’s 3-2 loss against Sampdoria on November 19.

As a result, Rugani is allegedly unhappy with the situation. Therefore, Arsenal and United are supposedly looking to swoop in and take advantage.

Per Mertesacker will take over Arsenal’s academy at the end of the season and Gabriel’s yet to be replaced after he left last summer. Therefore, the Gunners do seem to be on the look-out for a replacement centre-back. However, with three-and-a-half years left on his current deal, Rugani is an expensive option. In fact, the young defender could set Arsenal back a reported £35.4m.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcffph88lKg

Manchester United and Arsenal were both been linked with the defender two years ago when he was first said to be moving away from Empoli. However, he obviously joined Juventus instead.

What do we know?

Rugani’s contract with Juve runs out in June 2021. The 23-year-old joined the Old Lady from Empoli in 2013 and returned to the Serie B club on loan for two years.

Last season, the centre-back made 11 Serie A starts for Juve and the year before he made the same amount. Although he looks set to improve upon this during the 2017/18 season, it’s true that Allegri is currently favouring Benatia.

It’s also apparent that the Gunners do need another centre-back. Ex-West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, revealed back in September that Arsenal had tried to sign club captain Jonny Evans but failed. We’re now being linked with the 29-year-old again.

Calum Chambers and Rob Holding look as if they could be a solid pairing in the future. However, we need someone strong to come in as immediate back-up for Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi.

Mertesacker steps down from playing at the end of the season and Arsenal never replaced Gabriel after he signed for Valencia for £10m over the summer.

£35.4m for a centre-back is steep but then again we signed Mustafi for £35m in 2016.