Reports out of Italy claim Lucas Torreira wants to leave Arsenal.
Lucas Torreira was one of the most exciting signings in the Premier League last season after joining Arsenal from Sampdoria.
His cameo against Manchester City at the beginning of last season made the Arsenal fans think they had found the midfielder they have all been waiting for.
Torreira made 50 appearances across competitions for the Gunners in his first season and most fans expected to see more of him in this campaign, but that hasn’t been the case.
This season Torreira has fallen down the pecking order and has started just three games. Unai Emery has preferred Matteo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka in defensive midfield and Dani Ceballos in front of them for most of the club’s matches this season.
Now, a report on Tuttomercatoweb, since republished by the Mirror, is claiming that this situation has forced Torreira to look elsewhere. Apparently the Uruguayan believes that he will not develop his game if he doesn’t play more often and has decided to look for a move away.
The same report further claims that Torreira will sit down with the club soon to discuss his frustration at not playing more often and he could ask for a transfer away if they cannot offer him assurances.
It has to be stated that we are not talking about authoritative sites here, well, certainly not Tuttomercatoweb but they do include a video of Sky Sports Italia discussing Torreira and I assume it is this subject they are indeed talking about.
But regardless, it does raise the question, could the 28-year-old be on the verge of asking to leave?
I am not so sure, mainly because of the Granit Xhakaa situation. I suspect that this will see Torreira selected more often as a starter. If that is what happens, why would he ask for a transfer?
But at the same time, if he does not get the game time he desires, as an example Joe Willock being prefered, then it would not surprise me if he did ask to leave.