26.03.2014 14:13 h

Football: Sagna rejects Inter approach, says owner

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has turned down the chance of joining Inter Milan, according to club owner Erick Thohir on Wednesday.

Inter recently signed Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic but have been linked with a number of other English Premier League players including Sagna, Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.

Thohir in recent days said he had been awaiting feedback from Arsenal regarding an offer to Sagna, who has made over 200 appearances for Arsenal since joining the club in 2007.

Indonesian Thohir flew in to Milan from Jakarta on Wednesday ahead of Inter's home game against Udinese on Thursday and told reporters: "We're interested in Sagna because we need to balance the team. Right now we only have (Yuto) Nagatomo and Jonathan. If one of them gets injured you need somebody else to come in.

"But we have to accept the fact he (Sagna) wants to stay in England. We understand and in that case we might bring in a young player from our academy."

Asked about strikers Dzeko and Torres, Thohir seemed dismissive.

Although he admitted either player would be "useful", the Indonesian said: "All I've said, following the media speculation on Torres and Dzeko, is that one of them would be useful at Inter."

Inter, who missed out on Europe this season, sit sixth in Italy's Serie A just one place behind Parma who occupy the first available Europa League qualifying spot.

Leaders Juventus are in action Wednesday when they host Parma looking to restore their 14-point lead over Roma, who snatched a 2-1 win over Torino on Tuesday.