Arsene Wenger Finally Kicks Into Action After Making €31m Striker Bid

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Gooner Mac brings us news of Arsenal’s bid for Mario Balotelli.

Arsene Wenger appears to be getting his summer transfer business under way with reports today claiming that Arsenal have submitted a €31m bid for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli.

Wenger has been gearing up for what’s expected to be a busy summer in the transfer market with another striker to offer competition for Olivier Giroud next season understood to be a priority, and Balotelli has been touted as a potential target.

It was initially reported that the boss would use his time in Brazil as a pundit for French TV to scout Balotelli as well as Mario Mandzukic and Karim Benzema – who are also thought to be on the Frenchman’s radar.

However, speculation in recent days has suggested that Monaco are preparing to sell Radamel Falcao this summer and would use the money to try and land Balotelli. It seems the Ligue 1 giants interest has sparked Wenger into action early as the Express claim that Arsenal have now submitted a formal €31m (£25m) bid in the hope that will be enough to get a deal tied up quickly.

It remains to be seen whether that figure will be enough to persuade AC Milan to sell, but with new boss Filippo Inzaghi supposedly telling the striker he is free to leave this summer, the Gunners should be confident of agreeing a fee.

Another interesting twist to the tail is that newspaper reports have suggested that our new shirt manufacturers PUMA may be ready to help swing the deal in our favour, as Balotelli is one of their key clients and they would surely love to see him line-up wearing our new PUMA kit next season.

Balotelli is of course a hugely controversial figure but his talent can not be questioned. When he’s content, he’s an excellent striker and he was superb for Milan in the early days following his move from Manchester City before he went off the boil when he started being targetted for racial abuse during the second half of last season.

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There’s no doubt we need to bring in at least one top class striker this summer and I’d love to see Balotelli come to the Emirates, but it’s not going to be easy with Monaco also understood to be in the running, so let’s hope this news of a bid is accurate and we’re able to get a deal tied up quickly before the French outfit formalise their interest too.