Reported to have taken an interest in Kevin Malcuit from Napoli, Arsenal have had the door slammed in their face by Aurelio de Laurentiis.
According to France Football, who first reported the Gunners’ desire to sign the right-back, the Serie A side’s president ‘categorically refused’ the departure of his summer signing, who has started to enjoy an extended run of games under Carlo Ancelotti.
Arsenal and Unai Emery had targeted the former Lille defender as a short-term replacement for Hector Bellerin, who is currently out for the remainder of the season after injuring his knee ligaments, but they’ll now have to look elsewhere.
Only able (or willing) to sign players on loan, having done just that with Denis Suarez, it appears the Gunners are struggling to convince other teams to lend them their players.
Both Inter and Dalian Yifang have rejected approaches from the London club for Ivan Perisic and Yannick Carrasco respectively, and now we’ve got Napoli with Kevin Malcuit.
Not an ideal situation to be in.
