Arsenal target Mario Balotelli could cost £35m, claim reports
Arsenal may have to pay £35 million for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, according to Goal.
The Gunners have been linked with the Italian striker and could make a £25 million bid for his services. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reportedly met with Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, in Brazil earlier this week where the Frenchman is working as a pundit on the World Cup for French TV.
It is understood that Milan have made it clear to Raiola that they want an extra £10m on top of the rumoured £25m from any potential buyer for Balotelli, taking the overall price of the transfer up to £35m.
Having missed out on Champions League football last season, Milan are allegedly prepared to let Balotelli leave in order to rebuild with Filippo Inzaghi in charge of the first-team.
However, with Manchester City holding a 20% sell-on fee with any potential Balotelli transfer, Milan are keen to increase the price in order to get more money. They’re using it to drive up the price, but with Arsene Wenger so stingy with money regarding transfers and wages, it may scare the Gunners off.
With no other interest as seemingly real as Arsenal’s, Milan may not want to increase the fee by too much or the Gunners will walk away. In a way, it give the north London club a stick to negotiate with.