Arsenal lead £73m race for new striker target, 21, after Vinicius Jr snub but face Man Utd transfer competition

ARSENAL and Manchester United could go head to head in a transfer battle for Inter Milan powerhouse Pio Esposito.

SunSport can reveal the Premier League giants had scouts at Inter’s pre-season derby with AC Milan in Perth to run the rule over the 21-year-old, who Inter value at £73million.

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And the 6ft 3in striker passed his big-stage exam with flying colors — prompting glowing scouting reports to land straight on the desks of Mikel Arteta and Michael Carrick.

SunSport understands Gunners coaches have been monitoring the Italy international for months, with Arteta is keen on adding more attacking options behind Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz.

Gabriel Jesus is likely to leave with interest from AC Milan and other clubs in Italy, while the Gunners missed out on a landmark transfer for Vinicius Jr when he agreed new terms with Real Madrid.

Arteta wants a physically dominant focal point who can bully Prem centre-backs while working his socks off for the team — and Esposito is seen to fit that blueprint.

United meanwhile are also understood to have been tracking the striker for some time, but have no intention of rushing into an offer.

Red Devils chiefs have compiled an extensive dossier on Esposito, but feel there is no immediate emergency to slap a formal bid on the table right now.

The Old Trafford side are willing to sanction Joshua Zirkzee’s exit and want another striker behind Benjamin Sesko, but are likely to wait for Inter to soften their stance.

The San Siro side have publicly declared Esposito “untouchable” in a desperate bid to ward off English suitors from their golden boy.

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But SunSport can exclusively reveal the Italian giants have privately set a price tag of around £73m through intermediaries.

Esposito is currently keeping his head down and refuses to throw his toys out of the pram or force a dramatic exit from San Siro.

However, sources close to the player reveal he is deeply seduced by the pull of the Premier League and remains wide open to a dream move to England if either titan makes a move.