Arsenal have been linked with lots of strikers this summer, but so far they have had no success. One of the most recent to be linked is Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi.
Wanda Nara, Icardi’s partner and agent has been working hard in the press recently. Most recently she has linked the Argentinean to Juventus.
“Will Icardi stay? That’s a question for Mauro. I want him to stay because we’re happy in Milan.”
“Can I confirm Napoli and Juventus interest? Yes, the teams that would like to sign him are those that you all know at this point.
So it looks like Wanda may have been stirring the transfer pot to try and drum up interest in her client to then demand a pay rise from Inter. It is said that 23-year-old wants around £120,000 per-week.
Icardi isn’t a player that Arsene would normally go for, he’s a poacher type striker that Arsene has never really gone for since he moved to a one-striker formation. He would offer something different to Olivier and a plan B.
How does Icardi compare to Giroud?
GRAPHIC: Mauro Icardi vs Olivier Giroud – head-to-head comparison pic.twitter.com/uFal5ghAhg
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 18, 2016
Inter would probably demand £45million+ for their captain, and with the player happy to stay I can’t see this one happening. If he does move I think it will be within Italy. Juventus need to replace Alvaro Morata so that explains their interest. Napoli may need to replace Gonzalo Higuain, if he really did make a move to Arsenal – but that remains very unlikely.
Higuain’s reps spoke to Juventus, but the clubs director has revealed talks have stopped because they are not willing to pay the £78million release clause – I very very much doubt Arsenal would either.
The list of transfer targets is getting very slim at the moment. Arsenal may be wise to seriously consider someone like Icardi who is already a very good striker and aged 23, still has time to improve.
Who’s next to be linked then?..