Arsenal ace will not quit club for Italy insists agent in notable u-turn

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Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will not be leaving the Gunners this summer in favour of a move to Napoli, according to his agent.

The 29-year-old is currently still on holiday after being given an extended break following his exploits at Euro 2016 this summer.

However, that hasn’t been enough to see him avoid being mentioned in transfer gossip, with suggestions that he could be used in an exchange deal for Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain.

While that move doesn’t look likely, Michael Manuello has ruled out the possibility of a move to Naples ahead of the new campaign, insisting that his client is fully focused on Arsenal.

“Everything I’ve read on the Giroud is not true. I personally have only said that if Arsenal want to sell it, then we will see,” Manuello told TuttoMercatoWeb.

“I do not know where [the Napoli story] came from. We never talked to Naples and there are no other persons appointed over me that can do this, we need to clarify this.”

Despite his protests, Manuello himself was quoted as telling Radio CRC last week that: “In Naples, my client could have a wonderful lifestyle, not to mention that Maurizio Sarri’s style of footballer would get the best out of a striker like him.”

Whether that was only with a view of the French striker being included in a deal for Higuain is unclear, but ultimately it now looks as though Giroud will remain at the Emirates ahead of the new season.

Regardless, Wenger will be keen on adding more firepower to his squad with Danny Welbeck out long-term with injury, as the Arsenal boss has been criticised for years for not adding a proven goalscorer to his team that can deliver 20-plus goals in a season.

Having failed in their pursuit of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy last month, the French tactician will have to switch his focus elsewhere and add a striker capable of complimenting what Giroud can offer the team.

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