Per Mirror UK, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is all on board for trying to sign Inter frontman Mauro Icardi, who is currently stuck in negotiations with the Serie A side for a new contract.
With Gonzalo Higuain to Chelsea rumors still looming, Blues owner Roman Abramovich has now voiced his interest in trying to sign Argentinian international Mauro Icardi in the January transfer window. It’s very clear that Chelsea lacks true firepower up front and skipper Maurizio Sarri has made it a priority that the Blues must sign a striker before the transfer window closes. Alvaro Morata is slowly falling out at Stamford Bridge and could be on his way back to Spain or Italy, with recent talks with La Liga side Sevilla.
Eden Hazard has been playing as a false number nine for Sarri’s side, which has worked okay but they still lack a true striker who can consistently bag goals.
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Icardi last signed a contract extension with Inter back in 2016, with an agreement that he may leave to another club in Europe for a transfer fee of at least 100 million euros. The Italian club has offered the ruthless frontman six million euros per year, but his wife/agent Wanda Nara has demanded eight million euros per season, an offer that has yet to be put on the table.
They are severely in fear of losing their leading goal-scorer, who’s netted 13 times this season in 22 appearances across all competitions. But Inter is aware of the continual interest from big clubs around Europe, with Chelsea being the latest. Real Madrid has also previously been linked with the 25-year old.
With Icardi’s recent disappointment with contract negotiations with the San Siro, he could also be interested in a move out of Italy to a prestigious side like Chelsea. If they were able to pay the 100 million euros transfer fee for the Argentinian, the Blues would finally have their true number nine that they have lacked since Diego Costa left for Atletico Madrid way back in September of 2017.
Icardi has been a lethal attacker throughout his career, scoring 109 goals in 175 appearances since 2013 for Milan. He is currently Inter’s ninth all-time leading goal scorer. He’s a quick and physical striker who has a ruthless eye for goal. He would absolutely fit right in with Sarri’s squad, who play a very attacking-driven football which would be perfect for Icardi.
Whether the Blues end up signing Gonzalo Higuain or Mauro Icardi, both players would give Chelsea a true striker who can be a threat in front of goal and consistently find the back of the net in place of Alvaro Morata.
Icardi would probably be the most viable option if a deal can be put together considering he is just 25-years old, while Higuain is already 31. But at this point, any striker who can bag goals would be a positive for Maurizio Sarri as Chelsea sit in fourth place in the Premier League.