Arsenal offered Balotelli as Inter Milan eye £36m move for Fabregas

24 March 2010 15:33
No 1 target: Cesc Fabregas[LNB]Inter Milan have entered the race to sign Cesc Fabregas and hope to tempt Arsenal by offering Italy Under 21 star Mario Balotelli in a player-plus-cash deal worth £36million.[LNB]However, the Italians look set to be disappointed, with both the Gunners and their skipper reluctant to court a deal.[LNB]Reports on Italy's Sky Sports network suggested a deal may already have agreed in principle, but Fabregas's representatives told Spanish paper El Mundo Deportivo that there had been no contact, let alone and agreement between the two parties.[LNB]The 22-year-old is also wanted by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he has no intention of selling his lynchpin.[LNB]Mourinho is keen to add another creative midfielder to his squad and has also encouraged a bid for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.[LNB]Arsenal may seek a separate deal for Balotelli, who appears to be on his way out of San Siro after clashes with boss Jose Mourinho led to him being completely left out of the squad to face Chelsea in the Champions League earlier this month.[LNB] Hot shot: Fabregas has been in fine form for Arsenal[LNB][LNB]Balotelli has since been filmed wearing an AC Milan shirt - the team heopenly supports - and said of the victory over Chelsea: 'It was theteam that won at Stamford Bridge, not Mourinho.'[LNB]The 19-year-old will be left out for the fourth straight game when Inter play Livorno on Wednesday night.[LNB]Inter president Massimo Moratti is a huge fan of Balotelli and hopes the striker can patch up his differences with Mourinho, but the striker is the one who will be sacrificed if the relationship cannot be salvaged.[LNB]Manchester City have also been linked with Balotelli, while Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is a confirmed admirer.[LNB]Meanwhile, a survey carried out by Spanish sports paper Marca revealed that Real Madrid fans want Fabregas and Valencia winger David Silva to be their club's top two transfer targets this summer.[LNB]More than 55 per cent of respondents wanted Fabregas - despite his links to Barcelona - putting him ahead of Wayne Rooney (37.5 per cent), Ashley Cole (24.3 per cent) and Franck Ribery (40.2 per cent) in the beauty contest.[LNB] Arsenal 2 West Ham 0: Fabregas bans Barca talk to focus on title chargeArshavin writes off Arsenal's chances of winning the Premier LeagueJay-Z hints at Arsenal investment after falling Crazy in Love with Gunners LEO'S LONDON: Arsenal's central defensive OAPs not good enoughARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail