Chelsea To Launch £88m Bid To Sign Prolific South American Hitman

The transfer window may be closed but clubs are still working hard ahead of January and next summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea are linked with Mauro Icardi…

Chelsea are ready to move for Mauro Icardi this January by meeting the £88.6m (€100m) buyout clause inserted in to his Inter Milan contract, according to a report in the Mirror.

Icardi has developed in to one of the best strikers in European football since joining Inter from Sampdoria in 2013 with the 24-year-old netting 24 goals in 34 Serie A games last season.

The Argentinean international has continued his fine form in front of goal this term and has 11 goals in 12 games already, including a superb hat-trick during the recent derby against AC Milan.

Understandably, Icardi is attracting interest from clubs throughout Europe and it looks as though Chelsea are now ready to formalise their interest in the South American hitman.

The Mirror are citing a report from El Gol Digital that claims the Blues are ready to table an £88.6m (€100m) bid this January which would trigger Icardi’s buyout clause.

Chelsea splashed out on Alvaro Morata last summer but Antonio Conte seemingly wants to further strengthen his forward options and knows Icardi well from his time spent in Italy.

Inter will no doubt do all they can to try and hang on to the striker but there is little they could do to prevent him leaving if Chelsea do meet his buyout clause and Icardi makes it clear he wants to move to West London.

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming months but I think Icardi would be a superb signing for Chelsea if the defending Premier League champions were able to pull if off.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news

However, I have a feeling any potential move will have to wait until the end of the season as I can’t see Icardi changing clubs mid-season, especially during a World Cup year.