Arsenal linked to Serie A hotshot; Huntelaar undecided on Schalke future

Arsenal linked to Serie A hotshot

Arsenal are weighing up summer move for Udinese forward Luis Muriel, Daily Mail understands.

The Gunners are desperate to sign a cover for star striker Robin van Persie, and they are already identifying summer targets.

Koln forward Lukas Podolski remains the number one target, but Arsene Wenger also has a plan B.

According to Daily Mail, Arsenal boss is showing interest in Udinese forward Luis Muriel.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan at Lecce, where he has scored 5 goals in 21 Serie A games.

The young Colombian largely impressed at the Under-20 World Cup last year, where he bagged no less than four goals.

Muriel has yet to play a competitive game for the Zebrette, but he has proved his undoubted potential during his loan spell at Via del Mare.

The youngster has recently applied for a Spanish passport, which would help him avoid difficult work permit restrictions.

Huntelaar undecided on Schalke future

Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar has decided to shelve Schalke contract talks until after the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

The highly rated forward has a contract until June 2013 with the Miners and the club chiefs are desperate to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

The 28-year-old has been in brilliant form this season, scoring 40 goals in 38 competitive games, and Schalke chiefs are afraid they would not be able to hold on to the experienced forward.

The club have, therefore, offered the player a new contract until June 2015 that would see his yearly wage rise from €5 to €8 million, but Huntelaar appears to be having second thoughts.

“There will be time to gather my thoughts after the season,” Huntelaar was quoted as saying in Bild.

“Before then, I want to focus on scoring goals and not let myself be distracted at the European Championships.”

Lazio president admits interest in Montella

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has refused to deny speculations linking former Roma boss Vincenzo Montella with a coaching job at Olimpico.

The Biancocelesti coach Edy Reja has been under intense pressure for quite a while and he even offered his resignation earlier in the season.

Lazio chiefs decided to hold on to the experienced coach, but everything suggests that Reja will be allowed to leave at the end of the season.

Club president Claudio Lotito is thought to be pondering a move for Catania boss Vincenzo Montella and he now admits that he is interested in signing former Roma coach.

“Montella to coach Lazio? Nothing is impossible, but for now it is just speculation,” Lotito told Mediaset Premium.

“Montella is a great coach and in football nothing is impossible. But, for now it is just talk. Lazio are not looking for a coach and I think Montella is satisfied at Catania.”

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a lot of success with Catania and he is widely tipped to join one of the bigger Italian clubs in the summer.

However, it remains to be seen whether Montella would be open to a move to Lazio, having spent a big part of his playing career at Roma.

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