Orlando City and Uruguay attacker Facundo Torres has confirmed that Arsenal have been in touch regarding a possible transfer.
The 22-year-old has made a name for himself in MLS since leaving Penarol last January, registering 13 goals and 10 assists in his debut season for the Florida-based side.
Torres scored four goals as Orlando won the US Open Cup, and his efforts also helped the Lions reach the MLS Cup Playoffs, where they lost to Montreal in the qualifying round.
Torres is under contract at Orlando until December 2025 with the option of a further 12 months, but he is already being linked with a move to a top European club after just one year in the United States.
Speaking to 90Min, Torres revealed that Arsenal had made contact with Orlando to discuss a transfer, but he took no notice of negotiations to help his side focus on their efforts in Qatar.
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"Orlando City confirmed to me that there was contact with Arsenal, but then I left for the World Cup and I didn't want to hear about a potential transfer at that point," the Evening Standard quotes Torres as saying.
"So the conversation stayed there but now that I am back with the team, we will see where the conversation goes. I would love to play in Europe.
"It's a dream I've had since I was a kid. At the moment I am focused on Orlando City. But La Liga or Premier League would be my targets, and that's where the rumours are coming from ... I would absolutely love that."
Torres - a 10-cap Uruguay international - did not play a single minute for the South American nation at the World Cup as they suffered a disappointing group-stage elimination.
Arsenal are scoping out alternative attacking targets after missing out on the signature of Mykhaylo Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in an £88.6m deal.
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The Gunners have welcomed Emile Smith Rowe back from a groin injury, which has kept him out since September, but Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Reiss Nelson (thigh) are both sidelined.
Jesus was initially expected to be out until March after undergoing surgery on the issue he sustained at the World Cup, but Arteta has now claimed that the Brazilian could be out for longer than expected.
"Hopefully we will have Gabriel back for the final months, it was a serious injury a bit longer than we expected it. He is going to do everything he can to make it shorter but we'll miss him for a while," Arteta told a press conference last week.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard, Barcelona's Raphinha and Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby have all been mooted as possible alternatives to Mudryk for Arsenal, who are also reported to have jumped to the head of the queue to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
Arsenal boast an eight-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and are next in action at home to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
