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Napoli want to lock him up! Arsenal's Lorenzo Insigne pursuit dealt a blow by agent
LORENZO INSIGNE is unlikely to join Arsenal after the player's agent said that Napoli don't want to lose the forward.
Last week Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said reports that Insigne could be available for as little as £17m were laughable.
Instead, De Laurentiis claims he wants to hold onto the player until he is worth at least £50m.
And it seems that Insigne's representative, Antonio Ottaiano, has now received the message from Napoli loud and clear.
He told Il Sussidiario: "I don't think they [Arsenal] will [sign him].
"We know of the attentions of big foreign clubs, but I think he will stay at Napoli as the club wants to lock up the player. He will be one of the linchpins of Napoli.
"It's always a nice signal of appreciation when a great manager like Arsene Wenger takes interest in a player, but Napoli do not want to let Lorenzo go. We are happy.
"If Napoli change their mind then we can talk about other things, but, as of right now, there are no such signals."
Just last week Ottaiano admitted he was flattered by the interest but stressed that a move was unlikely unless Napoli has a dramatic change of heart about Insigne's role.
We know of the attentions of big foreign clubs, but I think he will stay at Napoli as the club wants to lock up the player.
He said: "We take into account the praising reports that Wenger has given about the player.
"We are honoured that a club like Arsenal could have Lorenzo on their wish list.
"However, from here to take it to the next level, that is a possible transfer, there is a huge mountain in between named Napoli.
"The club consider him without a shadow of a doubt as one of their cardinal players for their ambitious project.
"Hence, as of today, I don't see that there can be any further developments unless Arsenal speak to Napoli directly and Napoli change their view on Lorenzo's role here."
It now seems as though Wenger will now have to look elsewhere for striking reinforcements this summer as he looks to boost his forward line ahead of the new season.