Reported Arsenal target Mauro Icardi is set to stay at Inter Milan this summer, with president Erick Thohir insisting he will not be sold. 

Corriere dello Sport (h/t Colin Harvey of the Daily Star) had recently reported the Gunners were interested in landing the forward, and that his wife, Wanda, was in London to hold talks with the club. However, any suggestion of a move has been quashed by Thohir.

“We won’t sell Icardi. We received many offers, even from Napoli, but we won’t sell him,” he said speaking to the Inter Channel (h/t CalcioMercato.com). “One year ago, we extended his contract; we are like a family, if there are some problems, we can always talk. He’s our captain and an important player, we are happy with him.”

Icardi is considered as one of the finest forwards in Serie A, and at the age of 23, he can still make improvements to his game. Here’s why Inter are so desperate to keep him despite interest from the Gunners and Napoli:

Arsenal supporters will be getting a little tired of links to strikers, although they will be keen for their manager Arsene Wenger to get someone through the door who can lend support to Olivier Giroud.

The Inter man may have been ideal. As these numbers from WhoScored.com show, when chances come Icardi’s way, he regularly takes them:

A player who is predatory and sharp in the area may be exactly the kind of forward Arsenal need. In Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla, the Gunners have a wealth of creativity within their ranks, but so often it goes to waste.

Someone with a nose for goals and fast reactions would potentially capitalise better than someone such as Giroud. Icardi is of that type of style, although it is unlikely the Nerazzurri will let their skipper move on this summer.

     

Arsenal Leading Race for Oguzhan Ozyakup

According to Deporte Valenciano (h/t Dipesh Agarwal of Sport Witness) Arsenal are poised to rival Valencia for the signing of Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup.

It’s suggested that Manchester United are also in for the midfielder, who would cost a reported €20 million (£16.79 million) to prise away from his current club. Valencia are reportedly keen to sign the 23-year-old as a replacement for Andre Gomes, although it’s stated in the piece Arsenal are currently in pole position to secure him.

The Turkey star actually enjoyed a spell with Arsenal’s academy earlier in his career, although he never made a senior appearance before joining Besiktas in 2012.

The central midfielder had a breakthrough term in 2015-16, starring at the heart of the Besiktas team. Here is a look at some of his best moments:

Ozyakup’s main strengths are technical ones, as the 23-year-old is very effective on the ball. In terms of passing and dribbling, he’s on a par with any player in the Turkish top flight, while nine goals and seven assists in the Super Lig are indicative of a mature footballer.

Indeed, as these numbers from OptaCan show, Ozyakup has made major improvements to his end product lately:

That progress would be tempered if he moved to Arsenal. After all, Wenger has a host of skilful midfield men to call upon in the middle of the pitch in Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Granit Xhaka. Ozyakup would find minutes difficult to come by.

At Valencia, his forward runs and fine close control would see the Turkey international potentially fill the void left by Gomes. With more minutes likely on offer at the Mestalla than the Emirates Stadium, La Liga would be a sensible destination for the player.

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