Chelsea could make a move for Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi in the summer, it has been claimed.
The Blues have received a massive boost in the pursuit of Icardi after The Sun claimed that Real Madrid have stepped out of the chase in the fear of having to deal with his wife and agent Wanda Nora.
As a result, Chelsea are now alerted to the situation of Icardi, who is destined for a big-money move in the summer after being stripped of captaincy this month.
Mauro Icardi: The ideal boost Chelsea need
Chelsea are bracing themselves for a potential squad overhaul in the summer, especially in the attacking department.
Eden Hazard has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, with Real Madrid being the likeliest destination while ageing wingers like Willian and Pedro haven’t been able to get going under Maurizio Sarri this campaign.
New loan signing Gonzalo Higuain is still yet to find his feet in England and given his age, he is unlikely to be a long-term option. This could further tempt Chelsea to go big on Icardi, who is regarded as one of Serie A’s most prolific goalscorers.
Indeed, the Argentine has had a stellar scoring record in the Italian top flight, having plundered 119 goals in just over 200 league games.
As far as his gameplay is concerned, Icardi is predominantly a centre-forward, whose unerring ability to find the back of the net has made him one of the highest rated strikers in world football.
He is also quite clever in terms of his positioning, especially inside the penalty box, from where he has attempted almost 2 shots per game this season.
Another trait which makes him a valuable asset for his team is his hold-up play. Indeed, the 25-year-old has an excellent physique, which allows him to keep hold of the ball even under tight pressure. This syncs in well with the physical nature of the Premier League, making him a tailor-made fit for Chelsea.
However, it’s probably fair to point out that Icardi has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the past, largely due to his impulsive attitude, which certainly won’t go down all too well with Sarri.
But in hindsight, Icardi is someone, who could certainly add more bite into the Chelsea attack that has appeared far too over-reliant on the services of Hazard this season. And with the Belgian likely to leave the club in the summer, the addition of Icardi could make a world of sense as Chelsea hope to kickstart a new era.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Image Courtesy: flickr.com