The Italian media have confirmed the nature of A.C. Monza’s bid to sign Pablo Mari, a loan with an obligation to buy if they stay up.

In recent days, Serie A side A.C. Monza have emerged as the favourites to sign Pablo Mari from Arsenal, but it’s unlikely to be on a permanent deal initially.

Instead, Di Marzio report that Monza have made an offer of a loan with an obligation to buy if they stay up. They’re currently waiting on a response from Arsenal.

Fabrizio Romano reports the same thing, writing that Monza have submitted their offer, but it’s up to Arsenal now.

Arsenal are keen to get a number of senior players off their books, and Mari is clearly one of them, so you’d think it would be straightforward for the Gunners to accept the offer.

But there has been interest from elsewhere this summer, and Arsenal might want to wait and see if one of the other clubs comes back with a better offer.

Aside from brief links to Fenerbahce towards the end of July, the majority of the summer interest in Mari appears to have come from Serie A.

Initially, it looked like Mari could return to Udinese, following his loan spell there last season. The Italian side even reportedly made a bid, but that was as far as it went.

After that, Hellas Verona started to take over the headlines, with Udinese boss Gabriele Cioffi moving to Verona and seemingly hoping to take Mari with him.

For now, Monza are leading the race, but it doesn’t seem impossible Verona could come back in for the centre-back.

Mari made 15 appearances for Udinese last season, joining them towards the end of the January window. A return to Italy looks like his best option this summer.