Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reported to have
failed with a £9.5million bid for highly-rated Udinese defender
Cristian Zapata.
The Colombian starlet is one of the most highly-rated
young defenders in Europe and he is being tipped to move on this
summer.
The 21-year-old joined the Bianconeri in 2005 from Deportivo
Cali and he has been a regular for them over the past three
seasons.
AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan and Fiorentina are all keen -
but Gunners boss Wenger is also very much in the market to land the
young central defender.
Arsenal are believed to have made their interest known with an
opening offer of 12 million euros - but that is still someway short
of meeting Udinese's valuation.
Zapata has four years left on his contract at the Friuli and it
is believed the club would only consider a deal starting at 20
million euros (£15.8million).
It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a renewed
attempt to land the South America - although it is understood that
two further Premier League sides are considering making bids.