Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Monza striker Gustavo Varela after the 21-year-old made a striking start to his first season in Serie A.
The Portuguese forward joined Monza from Benfica during the summer and has quickly emerged as one of Italy’s most prominent young attacking players. Napoli and Benfica are also understood to be interested in his progress.
Gustavo Varela’s prolific start for Monza
Varela has scored six goals in six Serie A appearances, adding two more in the Coppa Italia to take his overall tally to eight goals in seven matches.
He was particularly influential in Monza’s recent 4-0 victory over Cagliari, scoring twice and providing an assist.
Monza paid only €2 million to sign the striker, but his value has risen sharply since his arrival. Varela is contracted until 2030, while Benfica do not have a buy-back clause.
Instead, the Portuguese club retain the right to match a future offer and are entitled to 20 per cent of any profit Monza make from a subsequent sale.
Monza manager Ivan Juric has also pointed to the forward’s potential, saying: “He is scoring goals and has enormous room for improvement in many areas.”
Varela’s performances have attracted attention because he offers more than a penalty-box presence. He can score with his head, create opportunities for himself and contribute to combination play, as well as operating as a traditional No.9.
His eight-goal haul places him joint-second among Serie A’s leading scorers, although his record has been built over a relatively small number of matches.
Arsenal are therefore expected to continue assessing Varela rather than rush into a major January bid. However, moving before his development drives his price towards the £70 million-plus range could prove significant if his form continues.
