Chelsea could be set to hand Arsenal the incentive in the race for Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli this summer.
The Italian, who starred for his nation during their victorious Euro 2020 campaign, has been linked with a move throughout the transfer window - Arsenal and Juventus emerging as the prime candidates for his signature.
The Serie A giants were thought to be favourites for Locatelli ’s services with previous reports suggesting that the player’s priority was a move to Turin.
As of yet, a deal is yet to be struck between Sassuolo and Juventus, meaning that Arsenal could yet make a move for the 23-year-old.
The north Londoners could even be handed even more encouragement, ironically by their Premier League rivals Chelsea.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are keeping an eye on Blues midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko should they fail to seal a deal for Locatelli.
With the Frenchman seemingly set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, this could potentially give the Gunners a free run at securing their target.
Bakayoko has already had two stints in Serie A with AC Milan and Napoli. He joined the former in 2018 following just one season as a Chelsea player, eventually making 42 appearances in all competitions for the Rossoneri.
A brief spell with former club Monaco then followed before the now 26-year-old returned to Italy last season with Napoli where he made a further 44 appearances
Bakayoko has just one year remaining on his current deal in west London, meaning that the Blues ideally need to sell this summer in order to recoup any of the reported £40m fee that originally saw him sign for Chelsea.
Elsewhere, Locatelli still has two years remaining on his contract with current employers Sassuolo.
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