Ogbonna shrugs off switch speculation

The 21-year-old Italian defender has made 23 league appearances for the Turin-based outfit since graduating from the youth ranks in 2006.

And Ogbonna has also featured for the Italian U21 side, despite calls from the Nigerian national team for him to switch allegiances.

As a result, the central defender - who can also operate at left-back - has been tipped to depart for pastures new, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believed to be keen to add the highly-rated youngster to his armoury of talent.

While big-spending Manchester City are also thought to be monitoring his progress.

However, the defender has moved to quash talk of him leaving the Serie A side at such an early stage in his career, but conceded that a move to a high-profile side such as Arsenal or City would be appealing.

"All this talk is paper talk, I don't know anything about it," he said.

"People talk about those teams because I am told I will do well in that league and I am built for that league, but let's wait and see.

"I am happy in Torino at the moment, but teams like Arsenal and Man City are very big teams attractive to any youngsters."

Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.