Arsenal To Land €48m-Rated Attacker For Just €30m?

The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Gooner Mac gives us news on Arsenal’s pursuit of Mario Balotelli.

PUMA are willing to help fund a big-money move by Arsenal to bring Mario Balotelli to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season, according to the Metro.

Arsenal officially announced a new record kit sponsorship deal with PUMA last month that’s due to start this summer and it looks like the sportswear giant could help us land one of their clients.

Balotelli has been a name linked with us over the past few weeks and Arsene Wenger has been tipped to renew his interest at the end of the season when he finally hopes to bring in a world class striker.

However, while AC Milan’s reported €48m (£40m) valuation has put the boss off making a bid so far, the Metro claim that our new sponsors, PUMA, have offered to part-fund the move and are willing to pay as much as €18m (£15m) towards the deal. That would mean Arsenal could potentially land Balotelli for just €30m (£25m).

The report suggests that PUMA – who also sponsor Balotelli – want to pair two of their biggest clients together so are prepared to stump up some serious cash to make it happen.

It’s not uncommon to hear of sponsors helping to fund transfer deals on the continent, but it’s extremely rare here in the UK and I have my doubts over whether a deal structured in this way would actually happen.

Balotelli was a hugely controversial figure during his time at Manchester City and even a great man-manager like Wenger may struggle to contain the fiery Italian international striker.

However, the 23-year-old is still young and perhaps he would mature under the tutelage of Arsene if we did manage to sign him in the summer, and there’s no doubting his talent. He’s already scored 25 goals in 38 matches for a struggling Milan side since joining them a year ago, so imagine what he could do with the likes of Ozil, Cazorla and Walcott supplying him.

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