Arsenal are going far and wide across several football leagues as their search for the correct attacker profiles for their squad continues. As per latest reports, the Gunners have enquired with Serie A side Bologna regarding a January transfer for their young Argentine forward Santiago Castro. As per initial news, they are currently exploring a loan with an obligation to buy in the summer.
This deal would work well for Bologna, who would reportedly accept a fee in the region of €35m for their player. Castro has been on Arsenal’s radar since he left Velez Sarsfield in January 2024, and is currently enjoying a successful second season in Italy. He has scored seven and assisted seven goals so far in 28 appearances, which has put him straight back onto the Gunners’ radar.
Aged just 20, Santiago Castro is a player that Mikel Arteta would cherish having in his team. A right-footed forward standing at nearly six feet, Castro is a handful in and around the 18-yard-box and has a very high ceiling, which is reflected in Bologna’s asking price. Additionally, the player will get a chance to maximize his potential with a club like Arsenal and would be tempted to move.
Why are Arsenal after players like Santiago Castro?
Castro is a great example of how players begin to show signs of flourishing when given the right time to excel in each stage of their development in early stages of their careers. Arsenal are keen on signing players who excel in their second developmental stage in their careers, i.e. the phase when they transition into first-teamers.
Born in 2004, he began his playing career with Velez, whose first team he broke into in 2021. In three years at the club, Castro made 64 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing two assists. Still a teenager during this sting, he was given the chance to move to Bologna in 2024, a perfect club for the next step in his career.
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Now a year into his career with the Italian side, he has already surpassed his total tally with Velez, that too in nearly half the games. This is a sign of a player who is adapting well to his surroundings, and as a result, Castro seems ready for the next step.
