Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger set to miss out on Nice defender Dalbert after Inter Milan agree £17million fee
Gunners boss was keen on left-back to replace outgoing Kieran Gibbs but appears to have been pipped to signing by Italians
ARSENAL are set to miss out on defender Dalbert Henrique after Inter Milan agreed a fee with Nice.
The Gunners had reportedly been keen on the left-back with Kieran Gibbs seemingly on his way out of the Emirates.
But TuttoMercatoWeb claims they have been beaten to the Brazilian's signature after the Serie A giants agreed a £17million deal.
Dalbert, 23, was a key cog in Nice's surprise third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
He made 33 appearances for the French side, as Nice only lost four matches throughout the entire campaign.
And his form was enough to attract the attention of Arsene Wenger - despite the Arsenal boss already snapping up Schalke’s Sead Kolasinac on a free transfer this summer.
With Gibbs set to leave, and Nacho Monreal establishing himself in the Gunners' back three, Wenger had hoped Dalbert could compete with Kolasinac for a spot in his new 3-4-3 system.
Arsenal hope to have more luck with another potential French import as they continue their pursuit of £45m Thomas Lemar from Monaco.
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Liverpool have now reportedly joined the race to sign the young winger, but Arsenal are still favourites.
One of the sticking points is the likes of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs' refusal to take wage cuts to leave North London, which would free up wages for Lemar.
Arsenal will need to wrap up their business quickly, with the future of Alexis Sanchez still in doubt.
Manchester City remains the Chilean forward's number one destination, but Arsene Wenger is refusing to sell his star man.
Wenger said the fact that three of their star players; Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez only have a year remaining on their contracts, is an ideal situation.
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