Celebrated Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that Arsenal sent scouts to watch Crotone forward Ante Budimir.
According to the journalist [in information relayed by Goal], the Gunners sent scout Tony Banfield to Italy on Saturday in order to watch Crotone’s match away at Latina.
Di Marzio believes that Arsene Wenger sent Banfield in order to keep an eye on Budimir, who he is believed to be interested in signing.
Banfield may well have been impressed; Budimir found the net, and has now registered 10 goals in 20 outings in the Italian Cup and the Italian second tier so far this season.
The match ended up 2-2, leaving Crotone top of Serie B, but with their lead on second-placed Cagliari cut to just one point.
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Playing in the second tier of the Italian game, 24-year-old Budimir would appear to be an unlikely candidate for Arsenal.
However, the Zenica-born forward, who is on loan at Crotone from German side St. Pauli, is supremely talented attacker and an immense goalscorer—as he demonstrated with 18 goals in 30 for Lokomotiva Zagreb.