Why Arsenal must plot a summer swoop for Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi
According to Calciomercato (h/t The Daily Mail), Arsenal will send scouts to watch Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi in the coming weeks.
Domenico Berardi, 25, has scored 9 goals and supplied 5 assists in 20 games in all competitions so far this season and is trying to force his way back into the Italy setup ahead of Euro 2020. He made his name playing as a central striker but this season, he has been deployed on the right side of the attack, improving dramatically on his record of 10 goals and four assists from 37 appearances last time out.
The Italian is contracted to the Mapei Stadium-Citta del Tricolore Stadium until summer 2024, having only signed an improved deal back in October. The report (h/t The Daily Mail) adds any move for Berardi could be seen as a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the Emirates Stadium.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 30, who joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2018, has scored an impressive 61 goals in 96 appearances. He is the Gunners’ top scorer this season with 20 goals across all competitions.
The Gabonese, who was named the club’s new captain in November 2019, will have just 12 months left on his current contract come this summer and has been linked with a move to Barcelona. (h/t The Metro)
Should Aubameyang not commit his future to the club, Arsenal must sell him in the summer and replace him by signing Berardi.
A product of the Sassuolo academy, Berardi has scored 83 goals in 250 appearances in all competitions for the club. He has been a consistent performer for I Neroverdi over the last few campaigns, scoring 25 goals in the last three Serie A seasons combined.
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The five-cap Italy international is a versatile forward, who is capable of playing anywhere across the front-line. He has been majorly used on the right by manager Roberto De Zerbi this campaign. Berardi has solid experience in the Serie A and his versatility would bring about a healthy competition for places at Arsenal.
Verdict
At the age of 25, Berardi is simply at the perfect stage in his career to test himself in the highly-competitive Premier League. He has proven himself in Italy and has the required qualities to thrive in England’s top-flight too. Hence, Arsenal must do everything possible to sign the Sassuolo star.
