An Italian newspaper once claimed that Alessio da Cruz was being scouted by Arsenal’s head of international recruitment.
Da Cruz appears to have flown to England on Tuesday amid reports that he will join Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Parma.
Photo courtesy of Alessio da Cruz on Instagram.
Photo courtesy of Alessio da Cruz on Instagram.
But Wednesday, it seems, are not the first English club to show an interest in the 23-year-old Dutchman.
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
According to La Stampa, Arsenal sent Francis Cagigao, their then head of recruitment, to watch Da Cruz in action for his previous club Novara.
Bellerin and Fabregas are said to have been unearthed by Cagigao. (Photo by Craig Mercer – CameraSport via Getty Images)
And Cagigao, who is credited with discovering the big-name stars such as Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin for Arsenal, was also pictured by Di Marzio in dialogue with a man reported to be Da Cruz’s agent.
But despite being linked with the Gunners and various others, including Inter Milan, it was to Parma that the former Ajax youth team player moved in January 2018, for a fee La Stampa claimed to be €3 million [around £2.5m now], plus bonuses.
Alessio da Cruz of Ascoli Calcio celebrates after scoring during the Serie B match between Juve Stabia and Ascoli Calcio at Stadio Romeo Menti Castellammare di Stabia Italy on 21 September 2019. (Photo Franco Romano)
Parma later loaned Da Cruz to Spezia Calcio and Ascoli, for whom he scored or made 11 goals in 15 Serie B games in the first half of this season.
Da Cruz, who also accrued three red cards in that time, can operate anywhere across the front line, but has spent the bulk of the campaign at centre-forward.
Sheffield Wednesday’s need for offensive reinforcements was exacerbated by the loss of their leading scorer Steven Fletcher to injury this month.
