Stamford Bridge side in advanced talks with San Siro side.
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Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is edging closer to securing a January move to lure AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli back to the Premier League.
CaughtOffside understands that the Stamford Bridge side are in advanced talks with AC Milan to sign the 23 year old with the San Siro side’s board ready to listen to offers for the troubled forward.
AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi apparently called for the controversial forward to be sold as part of wholesale changes the club is set to undergo with boss Massimiliano Allegri likely to be sacked sooner rather than later after an abysmal Serie A campaign that has left the Rossoneri in 13th spot in the table.
Balotelli may well be tempted by a move to reunite with his former Inter Milan boss and AC Milan may well have to sell a number of top talents to cater for the very real possibility that a Champions League qualification spot is looking decidedly unlikely for next season.
Mourinho has seen strikers Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba all struggle for form and the Portuguese manager sees Balotelli as the ideal man to lead his Blues attack.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to dig deep and is ready to offer up to £25m for Balotelli, who moved to AC Milan last January in a deal worth £16m.
It’s an offer the West London club are confident will be accepted.
Despite a number of off field antics and a suspensions arising from the accumulation of 15 cautions and a red card, Balotelli has still managed to score regularly since his return to Italy, netting 20 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions.
Chelsea are ready to offer Balotelli a deal worth £120k a week, which would represent a significant increase on his current £3.7m a year deal at AC Milan.