Chelsea Transfer News: Mauro Icardi Targeted by Blues and Manchester United

Mauro Icardi has been one of the brightest sparks in a pretty desperate season for Internazionale and his magnificent displays at the point of the Nerazzurri attack don’t seem to have gone unnoticed, with Chelsea reportedly set to battle it out with some Premier League giants to land him this summer.

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That’s according to Tim Collomosse of the London Evening Standard, who claims that the Blues, Manchester United and Manchester City all watched the Inter man during Sunday's 1-0 loss to high-flying Sampdoria. The very fact that result was no shock at all is a sign of how far the Milan club have fallen as of late.

Icardi's form has been a major plus point, though. Here’s a look at why:

Sadly for Inter fans, it’s looking increasingly likely that this season will be the 22-year-old’s last in Italy. As noted by Collomosse, talks on a new contract have stalled, and with Inter set to struggle to even secure Europa League football for next season, Icardi will feel as though he can find another side to play for that’ll better match his ambitions.

Collomosse elaborates on the kind of figures Chelsea would have to stump up to sign this exciting young star:

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Sources in Italy have indicated that the Premier League trio, along with Atletico Madrid, have placed Icardi high on their list of priorities for the summer.

The Argentina international is valued at about £22million and with Inter under pressure to comply with Financial Fair Play measures, they are likely to be willing sellers—especially if Icardi refuses to sign a new deal.

Icardi was looking for a basic wage of about £90,000 a week from Inter, and he would seek a similar figure were he to move.

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As noted by James Horncastle of BT Sport, the Argentinian is keeping some pretty illustrious company in the race to be Serie A’s top scorer this season:

When you consider just how poor Inter have been for much of this season, that’s credit to the offensive instincts of Icardi, who has really blossomed this campaign. While his goal haul is obviously very impressive, his all-round game is much more refined than it was 12 months ago, and he looks as though he has the requisite traits to cut it in the Premier League.

Here’s how Icardi shapes up in league matches when compared to some of English football’s finest strikers:

	Icardi	Aguero	Costa	Kane
Apps (Sub)	24 (3)	22 (3)	23	20 (6)
Goals	15	17	19	19
Assists	2	6	3	3
Shots per Game	3.1	4.5	3.3	3.2
Key Passes per Game	0.7	1	1.7	0.7
Dribbles per Game	0.3	2.6	1.2	1.5

It seems as though he has a clutch of admirers, but Chelsea are a team that have been perennially linked with the player. At this juncture, however, it’s debatable as to whether a switch to Stamford Bridge would be the best career move for this burgeoning forward.

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If Icardi does leave Inter, he must ensure he finds a club that needs a starting striker to build the team around. Given that City have just signed Wilfried Bony for big money to play alongside the magnificent Sergio Aguero and Chelsea have Loic Remy and Didier Drogba lending support to Diego Costa in a one-striker system, perhaps he should avoid a switch to either of the aforementioned pair.

For Chelsea, he’d likely be a big-money purchase who'd sit on the bench. As such, he's maybe best left alone. Indeed, Bleacher Report’s Chelsea correspondent Garry Hayes doesn’t think that this squad needs too many new faces if they’re to challenge European football’s elite next season:

With their ageing strike force, perhaps Manchester United would be the best destination for Icardi come the end of the season. But for the sake of his own development, he’d better suited to staying at Inter before switching to somewhere he'd find it very difficult to get in the side.

The Blues will surely refine their squad in the summer to allow Jose Mourinho to better compete on four fronts. But there are facets of this squad—the full-back positions and the base of the midfield especially—that are in far more need of replenishment than the striking department. You suspect Icardi will be acutely aware of that fact as he plots next career move.