Reported Arsenal target Riyad Mahrez is unaffected by the speculation linking him with a move to the Gunners this summer, according to his Leicester City team-mate Demarai Gray. Meanwhile, Inter Milan are adamant Mauro Icardi won’t be sold amid links with Napoli. 

Per the Evening Standard‘s Sam Long, Gray said: “There is a lot of speculation around him but he doesn’t seem to be bothered by any of that, does he? He works hard and he’s a Leicester player. We’ll just do what he does, train and focus on games.”

According to Eurosport, the Algerian could be the subject of a €50 million offer from Arsenal.

The PFA Player of the Year was one of the champions’ most outstanding players last season, as WhoScored.com revealed:

His pace, flair and eye for goal makes him a thrilling player to watch and a highly effective contributor from the wing.

He demonstrated as much on Saturday in the Foxes’ pre-season friendly with Celtic:

Leicester are understandably hoping to keep him, and manager Claudio Ranieri firmly believes he’ll stay put this summer:

As strong a player as he is, Arsenal’s pursuit of him is slightly unnecessary as they already have Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey contesting their attacking-midfield positions.

Unless they plan on pushing Sanchez into a central role, it’s difficult to see where he fits in their side when their most pressing need is for a prolific centre-forward—and at the fees reported, that’s a huge sum for a club as frugal as Arsenal to devote to a position they’re well stocked in.

Mahrez could certainly add more goals to the team, but he shouldn’t be a substitute for a clinical striker.

Speaking of which, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Metro‘s George Bellshaw), “Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis has already begun negotiations with the player himself and his entourage, and he’s ready to present a £46 million bid” for Icardi, whom Arsenal also want.

However, Inter don’t want to sell him to Napoli or the Gunners, per Sky Sports (h/t GianlucaDiMarzio’s David Amoyal):

Indeed, director Piero Ausilio clarified the Argentinian does not have a release clause and explained the club’s aim “is to reinforce the squad and we get better by keeping Icardi not selling him, regardless of the figures being offered.”

The 22-year-old Nerazzurri captain was actually outscored by Mahrez last season by a single league goal, but he could be the answer to the Gunners’ problems.

As OptaPaolo revealed, he could be considered the most clinical finisher in Serie A:

It’s also important to take into account that Icardi is playing in a fairly workman-like Inter side who lack creativity, so he’s not enjoying the same number of chances most top strikers get. At Arsenal, he’d have far more opportunities to find the back of the net.

While there is still plenty of time left in the transfer window, with pre-season already well under way Arsenal’s failure to bring in an upgrade on Olivier Giroud is becoming a concern.

It seems as though Icardi won’t be on the table this summer, so Arsenal should either test Inter’s resolve or act quickly in pursuing another target.

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