Arsenal handed immediate transfer response after Mikel Arteta urgent talks with Andrea Berta

Arsenal are said to have been impressed with Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito ahead of the summer transfer window

Arsenal were reportedly shut down in their transfer approach to sign Inter Milan star Pio Esposito. The 20-year-old striker was said to have impressed the Gunners so much in his appearance that Andrea Berta contacted the Serie A side over terms of a transfer.

The forward has seven goals and six assists in 36 appearances across all competitions for the Serie A giants. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Esposito's display against Arsenal certainly left a lasting impression on Mikel Arteta and the North London club's hierarchy with the Spaniard immediately approaching his sporting director over the player.

It has been said that his showing has led to the prospects being raised of an Italian transfer repeat - which could see Arsenal replicate their success in the Serie A market after signing Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. The report states that Berta asked for the conditions of a deal to sign Esposito, including the cost and if he was for sale - however, he received a defiant response.

The Italy international has four years remaining on his current deal at the San Siro and it has been said that there is little to no possibility that a deal will be struck with Inter taking a no-nonsense approach.

Esposito's importance within Cristian Chivu's side has increased following an injury for Lautaro Martinez, while the club were said to realise the 20-year-old's potential early as they tied him down to a new deal at the end of last season.

Further to Arsenal's possible disappointment, it has been said that negotiations could be re-opened before the end of this season to strengthen Inter's hand and tie him down under improved terms.

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The attacking department could be one that the Gunners target for improvement in the summer. Kai Havertz has endured numerous injury setbacks and his latest meant that he missed the last five games with a hamstring injury after his season-ending issue last term.

Gabriel Jesus is slowly regaining full fitness after his own battle with injuries. But the onus for goalscoring has been pinned on summer arrival Viktor Gyokeres, who has come to the fore scoring in five of his last six games.

The Swede has had his critics after a difficult season back in the Premier League but Arteta believes they are now on the right path to getting the 27-year-old firing on a consistent basis.

He said: "I think one thing leads to another. When you score the first one or the performances are good, you have more time with your team-mates, you understand the games, the opponent, the league better. Everything helps.

"We know his qualities. He is undoubtedly an incredible striker. We need to feed to his quality, we need to understand him better, he needs to understand the team, the league better, I think we are in the right trajectory."

"That's a question for him. Obviously I know the demands he puts on himself, the expectation that he has to help the team and I am confident because a lot of the times, our defenders, when they have to train against our players, [you ask], 'How do you feel when [you face him]?' and [they say], 'It's a nightmare'.

"That's a really good way to understand the quality of a player or how it is to defend him."

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