Gunners fail with big money Zapata bid
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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.
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he really like black defenders