Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is set to join Monza on a permanent deal at the end of the season, according to a new report, with the Gunners in line to receive a cash windfall if a move goes through.
Mari joined the Italian side at the beginning of the campaign on a season-long loan deal, having agreed to extend his contract at Arsenal by a further year.
The Spaniard was hospitalised in October after being the victim of a stabbing in an Italian supermarket, and made his return in December.
Since his comeback, Mari has played in every Serie A game for Monza, who have completed the league double over Juventus in what has been a successful season for Raffaele Palladino's side.
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They sit in 14th position in the league, having won nine of their 27 matches. Furthermore, they are 15 points above the relegation zone with 11 matches to play, meaning it is likely that they will remain in Serie A for a second season.
If they can do just that, it will mean a significant boost for Arsenal.
Pablo Mari close to joining Monza
Arsenal inserted a mandatory option to buy clause in Mari's loan contract with Monza, as per Goal, although it was dependent on two conditions.
The first involved Monza staying in Serie A, a feat they have been on track to achieve for a number of months.
The other condition involved Mari playing at least 50 per cent of the club's matches this season.
Following last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Cremonense, the 29-year-old has now played 21 out of a possible 40 matches - meaning he has fulfilled one part of the loan obligation.
As reported by AS, Mari is now a Monza player 'for all intents and purposes' - and only an unexpected slide down the table in the latter weeks of the season would see him return to the Emirates Stadium.
Should the deal go through, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal would receive a fee of around €6 million, which could prove to be vital in securing any of their summer targets.
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Mikel Arteta, Transfers
Ryan Smart