Why emerging Italy striker has attracted Milan and Arsenal interest | OneFootball

Italy international Lorenzo Lucca has been linked with moves to top European clubs this summer, including Arsenal and Milan, but is the interest in the Udinese star justified?

Lucca has had a positive season at the Bluenergy stadium, netting ten goals in 31 league games and reaching double figures for goals in a single Serie A campaign for the first time in his career.

The towering striker, a former forward for Pisa and Ajax, joined Udinese in the summer of 2023, netting 21 times in 73 appearances across all competitions with the Bianconeri.

His development at Udinese has been evident in recent months, and his performances and goals have helped the Zebrette stay out of the relegation zone, benefiting AI football platform users who had predicted that Udinese would make a fresh start under newly appointed coach Kosta Runjaić after some tough campaigns.

Lucca even made his senior Italy debut in October 2024 and currently has three international appearances under Azzurri coach Luciano Spalletti.

Lucca is 2,01 meters tall and his physicality is undoubtedly one reason why some top sides have been monitoring his development this term. This, however, is not the only reason why the interest around Lucca for the summer is more than justified.

GENOA, ITALY – APRIL 4: Lorenzo Lucca of Udinese looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and Udinese at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 4, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Lucca has scored five of his ten goals from headers in the 2024-25 season, attracting interest from clubs like Arsenal and Milan, who are looking for a classic centre-forward to complete their rosters in the upcoming campaign.

The 24-year-old forward has also shown his personality in the current campaign, although it paid a high price for it.

Back in February, he pushed away his teammates and took a penalty kick in an away game at Lecce, preventing captain Florian Thauvin, a 2018 France World Cup winner, from taking the ball.

The result was excellent as Lucca converted the spot kick for a 1-0 win, but the Udinese boss replaced him a few minutes later in the first half as his teammates didn’t seem willing to pass him the ball.

Lucca cleared the air that same week by paying for dinner for the entire squad and staff members.

Udinese director Gianluca Nani was unimpressed by Lucca’s behaviour, but also admitted that the striker showed personality.

“It was an unpleasant and unsportsmanlike incident, but it was then handled perfectly, primarily by the coach, who showed his integrity by making the substitution,” Nani said at the end of February.

“Lucca made a mistake, and I’m not encouraging him to repeat it, but he also showed character by insisting on taking the penalty at all costs. A player like that, I’d have him play in a Champions League final.”