Arsenal appear to have missed out on Ricky Alvarez after confirmation of a £10.6m deal with Inter Milan.
Inter agree initial £10.6m deal for attack-minded Argentine
Arsenal appear to have missed out on Ricky Alvarez following confirmation that a deal has been agreed for the midfielder to join Inter Milan.
The 23-year-old's current club, Velez Sarsfield, have announced that Inter are to pay an initial $17million (€11.8m/£10.6m) for 90 per cent of the player's economical rights before an additional €1m (£896,000) is due after he makes 80 first-team appearances.
Alvarez's impending move to the Giuseppe Meazza will come as a setback for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger amid reports that the Argentine was considered a possible replacement for Cesc Fabregas or Samir Nasri.
Both long-term Barcelona target Fabregas and Nasri, who is wanted by Manchester rivals United and City, are expected to leave Emirates Stadium this summer and critics are rounding on Wenger due to the apparent lack of replacements.
Whether or not Arsenal were put off by the price tag for a player who has yet to prove himself in European football is uncertain, but Inter are looking for creativity and have reached an agreement with Velez.
Uncertain
A statement on the Argentine club's website read: "Velez Sarsfield Athletic Club announces that it has reached an agreement with the authorities of FC Inter Milan for the transfer of our player Ricardo Alvarez."
Arsenal have also been linked with Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena, but the French club said on Monday that they have yet to receive an offer from any club for their star man.
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Sky Sports sources understand the Lille striker is having a medical with the Premier League club.
Alvarez's arrival will please Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who spoke of the South American during his unveiling to the media on Tuesday.
He said: "Alvarez is a great player. If he came to Inter, he'd be an important reinforcement."
