Arsenal are among the teams who are scouting Bologna striker Santiago Castro, according to Caught Offside.
The Argentinian Under 23 international has caught the eye with some impressive performances in Serie A, having started the campaign with 3 goals in 7 league matches.
It is believed the Gunners are “closely monitoring” Castro’s progress, along with four other Premier League clubs.
Chelsea, Aston Villa, Everton and Nottingham Forest are also reportedly keeping close tabs on the 20-year-old.
What do Arsenal fans need to know about Castro?
The forward came through the ranks of Argentinian First Division outfit Velez Sarsfield, making his senior debut against Atletico Tucuman as a substitute in a 0-0 draw back in August 2021.
Castro went on to make 64 appearances for Velez, scoring 9 goals, before sealing a €12m move to Bologna at the start of this year.
He did not become a regular starter for the Serie A side straightaway, making just 2 starts in the second half of last season. However, he did make a great impression when he scored and provided an assist in a 3-3 draw against Juventus back in May. Following the appointment of Vincenzo Italiano as head coach in the summer, the Argentine has featured more prominently.
The Gunners are looking to strengthen up front
Mikel Arteta’s side did make a concerted effort to buy RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko back in June so they are looking to reinforce their numbers at the top end of the pitch.
Like Sesko, Castro is still very young but he arguably has even less experience than the Slovenian. With that being the case, it would be a surprise if he is targeted as a candidate to start up front for Arsenal.
A lot may depend on whether he continues to find the back of the net for Bologna over the coming months. He is undoubtedly a player to keep an eye on.
Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here