Arsenal and Manchester United have made late enquiries about Pio Esposito, but the Italy Under-21 striker is close to agreeing a new contract with Inter Milan that would keep him at San Siro until 2031.
The 21-year-old has already reached a verbal agreement with Inter over the outline of a new deal and is now working to complete the formalities, according to CaughtOffside. The proposed contract is expected to include a significant pay rise on the terms he signed in April 2025.
Esposito has attracted sustained interest from both Arsenal and Manchester United because of his ability and the potential he has shown from a young age. However, their recent approaches appear to have come too late, with Inter increasingly confident of retaining the forward for the long term.
“Arsenal and Manchester United made contact again late on to ask about Esposito’s situation, but the response was clear, as they were told the player is in the process of finalising an agreement with Inter Milan over a new contract,” reported CaughtOffside.
The development is another setback for Arsenal as the club works to strengthen its attack before the transfer window closes. The north London club has already failed to complete moves for two prominent targets, Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers.
Arsenal are expected to look for an alternative to Vinicius Junior as they seek to add another attacking option before the new season begins. Several familiar names have again been linked with the club, although there are no indications of concrete moves or advanced negotiations at present.
The situation surrounding possible targets, as well as the positions of their current clubs, has made the search increasingly complicated.
Arsenal have long admired Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola, but both deals would present considerable difficulties. Alvarez could still leave Atletico Madrid this summer, although the Spanish club has no intention of allowing its striker to depart easily. The Argentina international, meanwhile, is understood to prefer remaining in Spain.
There has been no significant progress in that case. Atletico Madrid are standing firm against selling Alvarez to domestic rivals Barcelona, which has contributed to the current impasse.
Barcelona’s interest is also believed to have weakened after Atletico Madrid threatened legal action against the Catalan club. Barcelona have reportedly begun considering other targets, but that does not necessarily make Alvarez an easy signing for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta may have reservations about trying to persuade a player who does not appear entirely convinced by Arsenal’s sporting project, particularly if Alvarez’s preference remains to stay in Spain.
A fresh Arsenal approach for Barcola cannot be ruled out, but all the sources contacted in connection with the deal regard Liverpool as the leading contenders for the Paris Saint-Germain forward at this stage.
That assessment could still change. The transfer market has repeatedly shown that the balance of a race can shift quickly, and the current expectations may not reflect the eventual outcome.
Rogers provides the clearest recent example. Arsenal were previously thought to hold a strong position in the pursuit of the player, only for Chelsea to intervene and complete the deal earlier in the window.
Arsenal therefore remain in a difficult position as they attempt to replace targets they have been unable to secure. While Liverpool currently appear to have the advantage in the race for Barcola, and Alvarez remains a complicated possibility, Esposito is moving closer to committing his future to Inter Milan until 2031.
