Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reported to have failed with a £9.5million bid for highly-rated Udinese defender Cristian Zapata.
The 21-year-old joined the Bianconeri in 2005 from Deportivo Cali and he has been a regular for them over the past three seasons. AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan and Fiorentina are all keen - but Gunners boss Wenger is also very much in the market to land the young central defender.
Zapata has four years left on his contract at the Friuli and it is believed the club would only consider a deal starting at £15.8million.
It now remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a renewed attempt to land the South American - although it is understood that two further Premier League sides are considering making bids.
