Arsenal wanted Lazio’s Hernanes

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport understands that Arsenal were readying summer bid for Lazio playmaker Hernanes.

Arsene Wenger was keen to add another creative midfielder to the squad before the summer transfer window finished and he pulled off quite a coup by recruiting Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport has learned that the Frenchman would have gone for Lazio star Hernanes had the deal for Ozil fallen through.

The Brazilian has largely impressed since joining Lazio from Sao Paulo three years back, having been scoring goals for fun despite being deployed as a central midfielder.

Hernanes has so far featured in 103 Serie A games, scoring no less than 31 goals in the process, and it was his outstanding goalscoring record that attracted Arsene Wenger in the first place.

Lazio somehow managed to keep hold of their prized asset, but with Europe’s top clubs still keen, they might not be able to keep the player at Stadio Olimpico for much longer.