AS Monaco have reportedly begun talks within Arsenal regarding the possibility of a loan deal for midfielder Lucas Torreira.

The Uruguayan, who was signed from Sampdoria in 2018, has spent the opening portion of the season out on loan at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

He has not found game time forthcoming though, making 15 appearances with only four of those being starts.

Now, Sky Sports have suggested that AS Monaco are interested in picking up the loan deal for the second-half of 2020/21, something that Diego Simeone’s Atleti would have to agree to. However, Monaco are set to face competition with the likes of Fiorentina and Cagliari thought to also be admirers.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has suggested that there could be a decision to be made on the Uruguayan’s future in Madrid.

He said: “We’ve been talking to Lucas – Edu has been very close the situation.

“He hasn’t been playing as many minutes as he would like, as we would like, but to be fair the team is doing so well that it’s understandable they don’t change the team so much.

“We just want to be right behind Lucas, protect him, help him to make the right decision for the future.”

Should he remain with Atletico Madrid, Torreira would have an excellent chance of claiming a La Liga winners medal. Simeone’s troops currently sit seven points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand and can be backed at a price of 2/5 with William Hill to win the league come the end of the campaign.