Arsenal snubbed Mauro Icardi exchange in January and could live to regret it

Arsenal reportedly turned down a swap deal for Paris Saint-Germain striker Mauro Icardi in the January transfer window.

The Gunners were desperately on the prowl for a proven goal-scorer to come in and replace the out-of-favour Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January.

Mikel Arteta’s primary target was Fiorentina ace Dusan Vlahovic, but the Serb crushed the north Londoners’ hopes with a snub, opting to move to Juventus late in the window instead.

And despite losing Aubameyang on a free transfer to Barcelona, Arsenal were left having not made a single signing after refusing to trade their former captain for Argentine poacher Icardi.

The Athletic report Arsenal had the “opportunity” to do so and it certainly would have been an interesting choice given their lack of options up front.

But it is understood that Arteta and technical director Edu did not entertain the offer as they were clear on the candidates they would be pursuing from the start – and if none materialised they would ride it out until the end of the season.

Icardi at 28 is a player past his prime despite a solid return of 38 goals in 87 appearances for PSG.

Signing him, however, would have been a highly short-term solution to the Gunners’ lack of depth.

Do you think Arsenal made the right choice by not swapping Aubameyang for Icardi? Let us know in the comments section.

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Arteta’s decision to free-up the wage bill instead points to a big summer for the club, though there is a risk of being left short and therefore missing out on a top four place this season.

With strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah seemingly set to leave for free at the end of their contracts, Arsenal are expected to go big in the summer window.

Their list of attacking options include Alexander Isak, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and most recently Chelsea loanee Armando Broja.

Meanwhile, the Gunners have already wrapped up their first piece of business by agreeing a deal for United States goalkeeper Matt Turner, who will join on a three-year contract once the market reopens.

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