Arsenal want Roma midfielder as Cazorla replacement

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly eyeing a winter swoop for Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes. The 22-year-old has broken into the Giallorossi first-team this season following a successful stint with Empoli.

Paredes joined the Serie A giants from Boca Juniors on a permanent basis in 2015 before he was loaned out to Empoli during the previous campaign.

The youngster has been on Arsene Wenger's radar for some while, according to Tuttomercatoweb, the Frenchman is prepared to lodge an offer for the highly-rated midfielder in 2017.

The Gunners currently have the likes of Granit Xhaka, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Mohamed Elneny in the centre of the park, but Wenger is looking in the future with Cazorla approaching the latter stages of his career.

Cazorla, 31, has yet to resolve his situation with the Emirates with his existing deal due to expire at the end of the campaign.