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Arsenal are set to launch a £25m bid for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli according to the Daily Star.
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The Italian international has apparently been told by new San Siro boss Filippo Inzaghi that he can leave the club and this will no doubt fuel Arsene Wenger’s continued interest in the 23 year old.
Despite a turbulent 18 months at AC Milan, involving a number on and off field bust-ups and unsavoury incidents Balotelli has still scored regularly, netting 30 goals in 54 appearances since his move back to Italy in January 2013.
Arsenal’s interest could also be connected to their new long running kit deal with Puma, with Balotelli being signed up to the sportswear firm.
Puma are apparently ready to finance the deal which would greatly improve the north London club’s attack, which last term overly depended on Frenchman Olivier Giroud.
Though Balotelli is known to be something of a tricky character to manage Arsene Wenger may feel he is the man for the job and a move to the Emirates Stadium may tempt the former Man City man.
Balotelli put in a top notch display against England in Italy’s World Cup opener, scoring the winner with a firm header early in the second half.
Wenger’s over reliance on Giroud is in many ways exacerbated by his insistence on primarily using the likes of Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott in wide, rather than central, attacking roles.
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