Inter Milan hotshot Mauro Icardi is being linked with a move to the Premier League and Chelsea are one of the potential suitors.
Sassuolo defender Francesco Acerbi challenges Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi
It seems the most talked about strikers in Serie A lately have been Paolo Dybala (Juventus), Patrik Schick (Sampdoria) and of course Andrea Belotti.
While all of these have been linked with moves this summer, one name that has just come to the surface is Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi.
His club’s Chinese owners are reluctant to sell and in a bid to stave off suitors, they have slapped a world record £96 million price tag for his services though it is unlikely to deter the Premier League’s top clubs.
According to TalkSPORT, one of the interested parties is said to be Chelsea and the Kings Road club represent an interesting option.
Picture Supplied by Action Images – Mauro Icardi
Chelsea, regardless of whether star striker Diego Costa leaves, definitely require more depth in attack, especially with Michy Batshuayi’s future uncertain.
Blues boss Antonio Conte will be well aware of what the Argentine frontman can do from his time managing Juventus and with 24 goals in 34 league appearances this term, this is sure to be an attractive selling point.
At only 24 as well, he will only get better and has the potential to become one of the world’s leading strikers for years to come.
There is no doubt that he can bring something different to the Chelsea attack. More mobile than Costa and blessed with more pace, plus an instinctive eye for goal, he is well attributed to the way in which the west London side play.
Assuming that Eden Hazard stays at Stamford Bridge there is huge potential to forge a great partnership with the Belgian on the counter-attack and add even more dynamism to Chelsea’s arsenal.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
Roman Abramovich has promised significant funds to strengthen Chelsea’s squad this summer and signing Icardi would be a serious signal of intent to retain the Premier League title and also challenge for the Champions League.
Landing Icardi would also give Conte another option. While the Italian rejuvenated the Blues last season with a switch to 3-4-3 with two attackers slightly withdrawn from the central frontman, with the addition of Icardi, the Italian could quite easiliy accommodate both Costa and Icardi in the same system, though with one of the three playing in the hole.
This would also offer more scope to the wing backs, ensuring they have more space to attack in the channels and giving them another genuine attacking target to aim at in the opponent’s penalty area.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
While Icardi’s £96 million price tag would currently break the world transfer record, Abramovich has show before that he will splash the cash, especially on strikers as he did when signing Fernando Torres from Liverpool for £50 million and Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan for £30.8 million – both of them English transfer records at the time.
Conte, it seems, is keeping his cards to his chest with regards to transfer business, though don’t be surprised to see Chelsea linked to Icardi again this summer as the story develops.
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