Transfer News: Napoli set to bid a massive €70m for Arsenal target Mauro Icardi

Napoli are reportedly preparing an enormous €70m bid for fellow Serie A side Inter Milan’s striker Mauro Icardi.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport have claimed that Napoli are preparing to offer Inter Milan €70m for their striker and captain Mauro Icardi. The report states that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentis is keen on bringing the player to Naples but has seen his earlier bids between the range of €50m to €60m rejected by the Nerazzurri. The Italian, who is also a film producer, does not plan to give up on Icardi and is set to launch a €70m bid for the Italian international.

Napoli have just received a staggering €90m from the transfer of Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus and Laurentis wants to invest some of that money in replacing the Argentine. Icardi seems to have a good relationship and mutual respect for Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri, who reportedly has shortlisted the Inter Milan striker as the perfect replacement for Higuain.

Napoli are not the only club after the Inter captain, though, with a host of Premier League clubs interested. Arsenal and Chelsea were reported to be fighting it out for Icardi‘s signature with late reports of Tottenham joining the battle. Arsenal were then reportedly close to sealing a move for the Italian with the player’s wife and agent Wanda Nara travelling to London to meet with the Gunners representatives.

It is, however, rumoured that Icardi’s camp have already agreed terms with Napoli. Should the 23-year-old make the move across Italy, he would be signing a five-year contract reportedly worth around €6.5m per-year along in addition to bonuses and image rights.

Mauro Icardi has had much success after joining Inter Milan from fellow Serie A outfit Sampdoria. The 23-year-old has scored a combined total of 38 goals and provided 10 assists in 69 league appearances for the Nerazzurri over the past couple of seasons (stats via whoscored). The striker has been the driving force behind Inter Milan’s resurgence, with them reaching the Italian Cup final but losing on penalties to Serie A champions Juventus in a close match.

The Italian media seem convinced that Napoli are going to go all out in their pursuit of Mauro Icardi as coach Sarri sees the 23-year-old fitting perfectly into his style of play. Inter Milan, though, are not a club that are under any financial pressure, especially after the new Chinese revolution at the San Siro and would not be easily tempted by money. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentis, though, is willing to test their patience and does not seem willing to stop in front of Inter Milan’s wall. It looks like Laurentis is prepared to climb or break the Nerazzurri wall in order to sign their target.