English Premier League giants Arsenal FC could miss snagging Mauri Icardi this summer as Italian powerhouse SSC Napoli is reportedly preparing a €70 million offer for the Inter Milan striker.
Caught Offside reported that the Gunners are "set to miss out on another attacking target this summer" with Napoli speculated to submit the said to I Nerazzurri soonest.
The 23-year-old Inter team captain had been the subject of several transfer rumors throughout the summer and is said to be on his way to exit the "Stadio Giuseppe Meazza if a suitable offer is made to the Nerazzurri", the article said.
Local reports in Italy have also disclosed that Partenopei wants to expedite the transfer process of getting the Argentine forward as team officials want to make sure that they can obtain an able replacement for outgoing striker Gonzalo Higuaín before the new season starts later this month.
Higuaín, Icardi's compatriot and last season's Serie A top scorer with a remarkable production of 36 goals in 35 appearances, recently transferred to Napoli's rival club and five-straight defending Italian top flight champions Juventus.
The reports have also noted that €70 million would be enough to persuade the San Siro residents because of their recent financial troubles, even though Inter head coach Roberto Mancini is insisting that Icardi is not for sale.
Caught Offside had also mentioned that "as is seemingly common practice in football transfers these days, the interested party have approached the player and his representatives to reach an agreement first before going to the club that currently owns the individual in question", which means Icardi's camp, headed by his wife Wanda, could have already reached an agreement with Arsenal before the rumors of a potential transfer even went out.
Meanwhile, ESPN indicated that the Gunners are only pushing through with the Icardi deal if their current pursuit of Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette falls through.
While the 25-year-old French striker is not necessarily an upgrade over Icardi, he was Gunners head coach Arsene Wenger's first choice to provide competition up front for his resident center-forward, fellow Frenchman Olivier Giroud, next season.
The 66-year-old French mentor is targeting Lacazette with a €34.75 million bid, slightly less than half of what Inter demands for Icardi.
