Manchester City set to battle Arsenal for Serie A star after major Jude Bellingham transfer blow

Manchester City and Arsenal are keeping tabs on AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer ahead of the summer transfer window, as per reports.

The duo are fighting it out in the Premier League title race this season, with Pep Guardiola’s side in pole position to claim a third successive league crown as they look to pull off a historic treble.

Arsenal have enjoyed a strong campaign under Mikel Arteta and will also be looking to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

With Jude Bellingham expected to complete a sensational switch to Real Madrid, whom City face in the Champions League semi-final over two legs, the Premier League champions are understood to be eyeing alternative options to bolster their midfield.

There remain question marks over the respective futures of club captain Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva at the Etihad Stadium, with both reportedly open to parting ways with Manchester City.

A stop-start debut season at City has also raised doubts over what the coming months hold for Kalvin Phillips, who has struggled for game time since joining the Blues from Leeds United for £45 million.

Alexis MacAllister, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic have been previously mentioned as possible incomings ahead of what is expected to be another busy summer in the north-west.

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal and Manchester City are both keen to sign AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer in the upcoming transfer window.

Bennacer, 25, has four years left on his current deal at San Siro and could be on the move in the summer following an impressive campaign, helping AC Milan reach the last four of the Champions League, where they face local rivals Inter Milan.

Arsenal are believed to be interested in West Ham’s Declan Rice as well as Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, with the latter understood to be Arteta’s priority in terms of a transfer.

However, the Gunners could launch a move for Bennacer should neither of the above materialise as they aim to build on what has unarguably been a successful season at the Emirates Stadium.

City boss Guardiola is also a big admirer of the Algeria international and has reportedly directly contacted the midfielder in the past over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium.

It is worth noting that Bennacer’s new deal with AC Milan contains a release clause worth around €50 million, which is active until 2024.