Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has told Italian press that Edinson Cavani will not be sold unless any club can meet his £53million minimum release fee clause.

The Uruguayan striker is considered hot property in Europe at the moment after several impressive seasons with the Serie A club. Somewhat surprisingly, it was even thought recently that Arsenal had been in the running for him.

A rumour spread that Arsenal had made a £30million bid for an unnamed player, which gradually became widely thought to be Cavani. However, it would appear now that the 25-year-old is well out of the Gunners’ price range.

Quoted on Goal.com, De Laurentiis said:

“I have already said before that Cavani is not for sale. So we will have to wait and see whether someone is willing to pay his buy-out clause, and if the player wants to join that club.”

That pretty much seals it for Arsenal, not that it never seemed realistic. We have been linked with many strikers in this transfer window, but none with such prestige. Cavani is genuinely one of the best strikers in the world and we simply cannot afford players of that calibre at the height of their game. Expect him to be a Chelsea or Man City player some time in the next couple of years.

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