Arsenal are interested in signing former Liverpool defender Gabriel Paletta from Parma this summer, FootballDirectNews.com understands.
The 28-year-old did not enjoy great success in his first spell in English football, making just eight appearances for Liverpool, but has come on leaps and bounds in the last few seasons in Serie A, earning a recent call-up to the Italian national team.
His fine form has also attracted attention from Manchester United, though it now appears that Arsenal are set to step up their interest in the centre-back as they looke to improve their defensive options for next season.
Thomas Vermaelen seems likely to leave in the summer after falling out of favour with Arsene Wenger, which would leave the Gunners short of backup options to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. It remains to be seen if Paletta himself would be keen to return to the Premier League, but an Emirates Stadium insider revealed he is on Arsenal’s list of targets for that position.
He (Paletta) didn’t do so well at Liverpool I remember, but he’s improved and matured since then and looks a good option for us, a club source explained. “I know Wenger’s looked at him and could move for him depending on how talks with other targets progress.

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