Arsenal were never interested in heavily-linked Sampdoria centre-back Joachim Andersen, according to reports.

Andersen is set to join Olympique Lyonnais this summer, with Di Marzio reporter Fabrizio Romano reporting that he’s signing on a five-year deal. The transfer fee is reportedly €25m plus €5m in add-ons. Romano adds that Arsenal were never interested.

Though the links to Andersen had gone cold in recent weeks, there was a week or so in June when it seemed likely the centre-back would be on his way to North London.

Various Italian outlets had claimed Arsenal were making a double move for Andersen and Dennis Praet, with claims that a €42m bid for the two players had been turned down. The suggestion was that a deal could be done if the Gunners raised that bid to €50m.

Given Romano’s update on the situation, it seems like this rumour was fabricated by either Sampdoria or the players’ agents, in order to push through transfers to other clubs.

It’s a shame, as 23-year-old Andersen could’ve fit well in an Arsenal defence, as a tall ball-playing centre-back. Clearly, the Gunners were always following other targets though.