KEY POINTS

  • The Argentine has been linked with a big-money switch to the Emirates Stadium.
  • De Boer is determined to keep hold of highly-rated striker.

New Inter Milan manager Frank de Boer has insisted Mauro Icardi will not be leaving the club this summer. The highly-rated striker has been linked with a big-money switch to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea rumoured to be interested, but the newly-appointed Dutchman says Icardi will be staying at the San Siro.

Both clubs are in the market for new centre-forwards this summer - but it appears the sought-after Argentine will not be on the move. "We'll keep every player we don't want to sell," De Boer insisted, according to The Mirror.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Icardi's future, De Boer said he is looking forward to working with the striker, claiming he can still improve his game. "Icardi is very important for me and he'll stay," De Boer said of the reported Arsenal transfer target. "He's young, he can learn a lot, but he's already proven himself to be fantastic. We can work very well together, there won't be any problems."

Meanwhile, De Boer, who has joined Inter after six years in charge of Ajax, expressed confidence that his team can challenge Juventus for the Serie A crown this season. Juventus have won the title for the last five seasons and recently signed Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli.

"Juventus are not unbeatable, sometimes things change. They have a great team and it will be tough, but we want to fight," he said. "We spoke to Inter two weeks ago simply to understand whether there might be any common ground. Everything happened quickly. I was honoured by their interest."

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently confirmed he was keen to sign an attacker and a defender before the transfer window closes at the end of August. However, the Frenchman refused to reveal any of his transfer targets.

"Yes I do (expect to sign a defender before the season starts)," the manager said, as quoted by the Arsenal website. "We are still on the market for players. [Be it] at the front or at the back − we are on the market. Unfortunately, we are not alone."