Orlando City forward Facundo Torres has confirmed that Arsenal made an approach to the MLS club at the backend of last year and he is keen to see ‘where the conversation goes’.
The Gunners are in the market for a new attacker this month and had been locked in negotiations for Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk only for Chelsea to swoop in and hijack their deal.
Arsenal were ready to invest around £60million in the Ukrainian and still have that money to spend as they move on to alternative targets.
They have already been linked with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby – who will not come cheap – and Brighton’s wantaway winger Leandro Trossard.
Now a previous target could be back on the agenda, with Orlando forward Torres confirming that he received interest from Arsenal prior to the World Cup and is hopeful those talks will now resume.
‘Orlando City confirmed to me that there was contact with Arsenal, but then I left for the World Cup and I didn’t want to hear about a potential transfer at that point,’ he told 90min.
‘So the conversation stayed there but now that I am back with the team, we will see where the conversation goes.’
Although the winger says he is focused on performing for Orlando City, he would jump at the opportunity to move to the Premier League.
He continued: ‘I would love to play in Europe. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a kid.
‘At the moment I am focused on Orlando City. But La Liga or Premier League would be my targets, and that’s where the rumours are coming from. But yeah, I would absolutely love that.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked about missing out on Mudryk to Chelsea after the north London derby and replied: ‘I am very proud to have the players that we have.
‘We always want to try to improve the squad. The club are the first ones to try to do everything they can to improve the players we have.
‘But I think we have to have some discipline and we have to be very consistent in the targets we want, but as well what we are able to do in each moment. We can make the players better, let’s focus on that.’
MORE : Shakhtar Donetsk CEO takes swipe at Arsenal’s Mykhailo Mudryk offer and reveals why Chelsea won race
MORE : Rio Ferdinand names Martin Odegaard his player of the season but suggests Arsenal star might be tempted by Barcelona
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