ARSENAL have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Mauro Icardi with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly looking to sign the striker on a permanent deal.
The 27-year-old is a on a season-long loan at Parc des Princes from Inter Milan, with the player scoring 20 goals in 31 games in all competitions for Les Parisiens.
But despite PSG having an option to buy clause in his contract, it has been claimed that the Gunners are interested in the Argentinian international as a possible replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyag.
However French new outlet L’Equipe have stated that PSG are keen to keep hold of Icardi, though they are unwilling to fork out the required £61.4million to land him.
The coronavirus pandemic has led to the Ligue 1 season being scrapped, with PSG losing a great deal of money.
As a result, it has been said that they will negotiate with Inter about paying a smaller fee, while they could offer the Serie A outfit a midfielder they desperately need.
Former Arsenal target Julian Draxler could be the man offered to the Italian side – with L’Equipe stating he was made available to Inter in the January transfer window.
Draxler is claimed to be happy in Paris, but with one year left on his deal, it remains to be seen what sort of future he has under Thomas Tuchel.
And with Sportmediaset adamant that Inter will not budge on their asking price for Icardi, it looks likely that PSG will have to tempt the club into accepting in another way.
The PSG hierarchy are huge fans of Icardi, and remain convinced he is the success to Edinson Cavani – despite the Uruguayan forcing him out of the starting XI during the second half of the campaign.
Icardi is tied down at Inter until 2021, but the club’s director Javier Zanetti has already admitted he has no future at the San Siro.
Asked whether he will be playing for them next season, he said: “I don’t know, I don’t think so.
“But right now we’re not talking about the transfer market, the most important thing is health. Then we’ll have time to think about it.”
