ARSENAL have been dealt a hammer blow in their pursuit of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
The 24-year-old has bagged 23 goals this season and was a rumoured target for the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta planning to bring in two goalscorers this summer.
Lautaro Martinez is not planning to leave Inter Milan this summer Credit: Getty Arsenal had been eager to sign Martinez last year but failed in their efforts to recruit him on a £275,000-a-week deal.
In an attempt to ward off any attention, Inter handed Martinez a new long-term deal back in October, keeping him at the club until 2026.
And despite the Gunners reigniting their interest in the Argentinian international’s services earlier this month, his agent Alejando Camano has insisted he will NOT be quitting the club this summer.
He stated Martinez is “happy” at Inter and focused on trying to help the club retain their Serie A crown, before switching his attention to the World Cup.
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Arsenal ‘explore’ Sterling transfer, Gunners ‘confident’ on Tielemans signing Camano told TV programme ‘Como te va?’: “Sometimes the media publishes stories about his possible transfer but Lautaro is only focused on Inter, giving the fans joy and making them champions again.
“Then he can start preparing for the World Cup with Argentina.
“We are not expecting or looking for a transfer.
“He is at Inter, he is happy, the city is wonderful. We are thinking only of Inter.”
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Camano added: “Lautaro is growing as a footballer, let’s not forget that we are talking about a 24-year-old player.
“He is already establishing himself as one of the most important strikers on the international scene.”
The news comes as a blow to Arteta, with the Arsenal boss desperately scouring the market for attacking reinforcements.
Both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are out of contract in the summer and Martinez had been billed as a potential replacement.
Alternative attacking targets for the Gunners include the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Gabriel Jesus, Tammy Abraham and Alexander Isak.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk