• Torreira only joined the Premier League club from Sampdoria last summer.
• But he is reportedly unhappy with life in England and Milan could offer exit.
AC Milan have reportedly made Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira their top transfer target this summer and are considering offering Franck Kessie in part-exchange.
Torreira only moved to the Emirates Stadium 12 months ago in a £26million move from Sampdoria and has admitted that adapting to life in England has been a struggle.
The Uruguayan’s former boss at Sampdoria, Marco Giampaolo, is set to become the new Milan manager and has reportedly made Torreira his top target.
According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan have contacted Torreira’s agent to discuss the possibility of a quick return to Italy.
Milan would have to pay around £40m for the midfielder but, according to Tuttosport, could offer 22-year-old Ivorian Kessie as part of the deal.
Alternatively, Kessie could be sold to another club to raise funds to land Torreira. The decision will be made in part by two club legends appointed into roles at the San Siro just this week.
Zvonimir Boban was appointed the club’s chief football officer while Paolo Maldini has become technical director.
Milan are boosted in their pursuit of Torreira by the fact his girlfriend, Vittoria Repetto, who hails from Genoa, isn’t happy in London and would like to return to her homeland. And this desire to move was reflected by Torreira in comments when asked last week what he enjoys most about England.
He said: “I don’t know if there are many things that I enjoy. I think it was better in Italy. England is a totally different world, a very large country.
“The language [barrier] has cost me, to be able to relate with my peers and with the people. It’s very difficult when you can’t have a dialogue.
“And so is the climate. You go out in the morning and it is cloudy, you arrive late to your home and it is cloudy.
“It is strange a little bit, the sun, the more of us that we are here and we are accustomed to having always or almost always the sun. “But as the year's pass, I’m going to be adapting.”
However, Milan could offer Torreira an escape route this summer and with Kessie keen to test himself in the Premier League, a deal could be struck.