Arsenal are preparing a move to bring Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic to the Emirates in the summer, according to the Express.

The Slovenian international has had a strong season with the club so far, scoring 10 goals and creating two more in 31 league appearances. However, despite his performances, Palermo have been relegated from the Italian top flight; last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina confirmed the demotion.

Josip Ilicic (C)
Reuters

The Express' report claims Arsene Wenger has identified the 25-year-old as one of his summer targets. And given the Gunners expect to have £70m to spend in the summer, an approach should not be a problem.

The Italian club's owner and chairman, Maurizio Zamparini has already admitted he will struggle to hold on to Illic. The 71-year-old businessman also said he realised the midfielder needed to be part of a bigger club.

"Josip Ilicic is a player for big clubs so I really doubt that he will stay with us. We will have to talk of course but he has already told me that he will leave if he gets an offer from a big club. And I don't doubt that he will get one," Zamparini told Milan News.

Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, they are likely to face stiff competition to land the Slovenian in the summer. Italian clubs AC Milan, AS Roma and Sampdoria, with Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, have all been linked to the midfielder. Ilicic's agent, Amir Ruznic, has revealed there has been no contact from Milan but refused to rule out the possibility of a move.

"There have been no talks and nobody has called me from AC Milan. But it would not surprise me if AC Milan thought of him. It is normal that a player like Ilicic pleases a club like AC Milan. But the season is not over yet and there will be enough time to speak about that later," Ruznic said.

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