Arsenal target £16.9m-rated Serie A star, Manchester City also interested

Arsenal are reportedly stepping up their interest in Brazil full-back Bruno Peres, according to Gazzetta World.

The Premier League side, who finished an eventual 10 points adrift of English top-flight champions Leicester City last term in second place, have been linked with luring the Torino defender to the Emirates Stadium ahead of the new 2016/17 campaign.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The 26-year-old, who was born in Sao Paulo, scored three goals and provided seven assists in 33 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A outfit last season.

Peres; who was watched by Arsenal scouts during Torino’s pre-season friendly draw against Liga NOS giants Benfica on Wednesday night, is also understood to be attracting the likes of Premier League rivals Manchester City, plus FC Barcelona, Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen.

However the report suggests that preliminary discussions have begun between the Gunners and the Brazilian, although the Italian club will demand £16.9m for his signature this summer.