Arsenal are desperate to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and will reportedly offer Olivier Giroud in a player-plus-cash deal to Inter Milan for their striker Mauro Icardi.
Arsenal and Napoli are both in the hunt for Inter captain Mauro Icardi. While the Neapolitan are reportedly willing to offer €70 million for the highly rated Argentine striker, the Gunners are set to offer €35 million and their 29-year-old French striker Olivier Giroud in exchange for Icardi, according to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport.
Icardi’s wife and agent Wanda Nara is currently in London and is reportedly in negotiations with Arsenal representatives over a possible deal for the 23-year-old striker, who has been one of the club’s top transfer targets this summer.
After failed attempts to sign Jamie Vardy from Arsenal and Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli, and with their pursuit of Olympique Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette reaching a dead end, the Gunners will be desperate to secure at least one of their striker targets.
Arsene Wenger has himself hinted at a possible summer signing, while the club has reportedly promised more than £70 million (€82 million) in transfer funds to their French manager.
However, this latest bit of transfer news does not bode well for the Gunners’ fans. Inter are likely to be disinterested in the possibility of Giroud arriving at the San Siro in exchange for their captain and star striker Icardi. The 29-year-old Frenchman has drawn criticism from all corners for his high-profile mistakes, lack of pace and inability to make the most of chances created by a talented Arsenal midfield behind him.
At his age, the France striker probably has only a couple of seasons of top tier action left in him, while Icardi has displayed the ability to develop into a world class striker in the next few years. Arsenal will need to substantially increase their offer if they want to secure him from the clutches of I Nerazzurri, who are looking to get back on top of the Serie A after the Chinese takeover.
