Report: Inter Milan unwilling to sell £43.1m Bellerin replacement Hakimi to Arsenal

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According to AS, Inter Milan have no intentions of selling rumoured Arsenal target Achraf Hakimi this summer.

The Spanish publication previously touted the Gunners as a potential destination for the right-back, with the north London outfit deeming him as the ideal successor to Hector Bellerin.

Arsenal are on the hunt for a new right-sided full-back after boss Mikel Arteta marked the position as a priority, as Bellerin’s future is considered to be away from the Emirates Stadium.

A move for Hakimi was expected to be achievable for €50million (£43.1m), should Real Madrid elect to overlook their right of first refusal having included a clause in the €40m (£34.5m) deal that took the Moroccan to the San Siro last summer.

But Arsenal may now have to turn their search away from the newly-crowned Serie A champions, with Inter Milan no longer likely to cash-in on Hakimi after seeing the 22-year-old prove his worth to Antonio Conte.

Hakimi had struggled to lock down a starting role in Conte’s plans earlier in the season but has often proven to be undroppable since the turn of the year, and now ranks behind only Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez for goals scored with seven strikes to his name.

TBR’s view:

Inter Milan being unwilling to part with Hakimi will no doubt come as a blow to Arsenal with the north London side considering him to be their ideal successor to Bellerin and a move for the Moroccan receiving Arteta’s support (AS).

Hakimi would certainly have offered the Gunners a strong candidate on the right-hand side of the Spaniard’s backline, having proven to be a vastly creative force in the Serie A while improving his defensive abilities this season.

The Gunners may now have to turn to other previously linked options, such as Tariq Lamptey, who football.london claimed in March is on a list of potential Bellerin replacements and The Athletic noted would not be denied a move away from Brighton & Hove Albion despite the defender penning a new £40,000-per-week contract in January.