Arsenal are ready and willing to pay Sassuolo’s price tag for Manuel Locatelli, but only if the player himself actually wants to join.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal are prepared to pay Sassuolo €40m for Manuel Locatelli, but they only want to sign players that are happy and 100% to join the club.

Contrary to some reports in the last day or so, Romano adds that he doesn’t see Locatelli staying at Sassuolo this summer, even if Juventus don’t reach an agreement for him. So there’s still a chance that if the Juventus move breaks down, he joins Arsenal.

Di Marzio reported earlier this week that Juventus had met with Sassuolo on Friday to try and agree a deal for Locatelli, submitting their first official offer.

But Juventus are offering a two-year loan with an obligation to buy based on certain conditions set at €30m, with some bonuses included on top of that. Sassuolo want €40m and a sale, not a loan. Arsenal are reportedly offering that €40m.

There’s still plenty of time for Juventus to agree a deal, so it just depends on whether their initial offer was a negotiating tactic, or whether they really can’t afford the €40m Sassuolo want.