The agent of Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo regards reports of his client switching to Arsenal as merely rumour. It is being suggested that the Italian international could be a replacement for Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates, should the Spaniard move to Barcelona.

"Apart from the fact that if it were true I wouldn't tell you, I laugh when I see certain things [in the newspapers]," Govanni Branchini told firenzeviola.it.

"This isn't because it's unlikely, given the value of the player, more due to the timing. I don't expect tomorrow there will be news of Manchester United interested in North Korea's goalkeeper.

"However, it seems strange [for Montolivo] that precisely a few hours after his performance against New Zealand, clubs have already set things in motion."