"?Arsenal are continuing what has so far been a hopeless hunt for a top striker this summer, with Gonzalo Higuain too expensive and Lyon determined not to sell Alexandre Lacazette. But the Gunners have been given a shred of hope when it comes to Mauro Icardi.
Inter, much like Lyon, have previously maintained that their star striker is not for sale. Yet now there appears to be a minimum threshold at which a deal might be done, and it's in the region of £50m, the London Evening Standard notes.
.@Inter: parla Erick #Thohir, secondo cui 60 milioni per Mauro Icardi sono troppo pochi. #SkyCalciomercato https://t.co/RDY2m3psJx
Inter president Erick Thohir has revealed that he would like to see an offer for Icardi, who at just 23 years of age is already Inter captain, hit the €60m mark. That's the equivalent of a figure marginally over £50m.
The Indonesian businessman has not outright said that the Nerazzurri will sell for that price, but it does give Arsenal or indeed any other interested clubs a foothold to work from. That kind of fee would be a club record for the Gunners.
"All of us (at Inter) are hoping that number goes over €60m," he said.
Inter are currently in the midst of organising a new contract for Icardi, but there are suggestions from Gazzetta dello Sport that he could sit out upcoming friendlies as angst builds.
"For us, that isn't important at the moment. Inter will be here for hundreds of years yet.
Inter is made of individuals who can change. This happens every year," Thohir added.
However, given a choice, Inter would obviously like to keep hold of the Argentine, scorer of 52 goals in all competitions since joining the club in 2013.
"He's a very important player for the team, he's our captain. We're building a team and we have to look at the dynamic," the president explained.
Arsenal are currently relying on a front-line of Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Joel Campbell, new signing Takuma Asano and youngsters Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi. Danny Welbeck is nursing a knee injury that will keep him out of action until February.
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