Rumour: Arsene Wenger would have to pay £50 million for Torino forward Andrea Belotti

Posted Saturday, January 07, 2017 by squawka.com

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been told he will have to pay £50 million for Torino forward Andrea Belotti.

A move for the Italian forward is unlikely this month because of the hefty price tag, but Wenger will keep tabs on Belotti with a view to making a bid in the summer.

Real Madrid and Barcelona have also sent scouts to watch the 23-year-old this season, who has scored 13 goals in 16 Serie A appearances this season.

The Sun reports a source in Italy said: "Arsenal have an option for Belotti from Torino, and he is available for 60m Euros."

"That is to get him now before any other teams come in for him, but Arsenal will not pay that amount just yet."

"They will wait to see what happens with him this season, and think about moving for him again in the summer."

Belotti has scored 25 goals in 51 league appearances for the club since arriving from Palermo in the summer of 2015. Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi is the only player with more goals in Italy's top flight so far this season, with the Argentinian scoring just one more goal.

The striker has also created 32 chances for his teammates so far, including three assists.

Meanwhile Arsenal's current forwards Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez have scored a combined total of seven goals in the league so far, as well as creating just 13 chances.

Belotti has an average shot accuracy rate of 60% in Serie A this term, better than Giroud (56%).