Fiorentina are in contact with Arsenal over the potential signing of Lucas Torreira, but they aren’t willing to meet their initial €30m demands.

Italian outlet La Nazione (via LLSN) report that Fiorentina are among a number of Serie A clubs with an interest in Lucas Torreira. They join AS Roma, AC Milan, Napoli, Torino and Lazio in the race for the Arsenal midfielder.

Fiorentina are the first club to make a move, getting in contact with Arsenal. The Gunners responded with a €30m price tag, which stopped the Italian side in their tracks.

Club executives reportedly believe Arsenal will lower their demands as the transfer window goes on, so they’re willing to wait a bit longer before making an offer.

Whilst that makes sense, the plan does fall apart if all that other interest from Italy is genuine.

Fiorentina may struggle to win a six-way bidding war if they leave their opening offer until late in the window. So they’re relying on all other clubs in the race taking the same approach.

It’s no real surprise to see Torreira on the market. Despite making 39 appearances for Arsenal this season, he really didn’t seem like a first-choice player under Mikel Arteta. Both before and after his ankle injury he was mostly settling for substitute appearances.

But Arsenal appear to have big recruitment plans this summer, and they need to raise funds. They won’t let Torreira go for nothing, so expect this stand-off to drag on.