Arsenal eye Italian defender Michael Kayode from Fiorentina

Fiorentina defender Michael Kayode has been touted as the man to solve Arsenal’s issues at right-back, with the Italian youth international emerging as a possible target for the Gunners.

Kayode has shone like a million stars since making his debut for Fiorentina this season, making six appearances for the Viola across Serie A and European games in the UEFA Europa Conference League. 

The 19-year-old defender has become a first-team fixture for Fiorentina, starting four of the six matches he has played this season, gaining the attention of Italian national team manager Luciano Spalletti and Premier League side Arsenal. 

A scout from the Premier League side as well as the Azzzurri manager were in the crowd when Kayode secured the first assist of his Fiorentina career in a routine 3-0 win over Cagliari in Serie A. 

Arsenal are believed to be keeping tabs on the teenage full-back who is valued at under €1 million on Transfermarkt and is unlikely to cost the Gunners a fortune to capture. 

Kayode, as his surname implies is of Nigerian descent, but has become a mainstay on the Italian U-19 side, making 12 appearances for the Azzurrini in just under two years of service. 

Before joining Fiorentina, Kayode was on the books of Juventus’ youth team, before making the step to becoming a professional with Serie D side Gozzano. 

Kayode joined Fiorentina’s youth team in 2021 after impressing in Serie D, and his meteoric rise in just two years could see him follow the footsteps of Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie.