Arsenal set to make £18m Balotelli bid but Italians demand Fabregas in return

Arsenal are said to be lining up an £18million move for Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli - only for the Italians to demand Cesc Fabregas in return.Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to splash out in January to add firepower to a side that have failed to score in back-to-back defeats without the injured Robin van Persie.Italy Under 21 international Balotelli is highly rated, but has a difficult relationship with boss Jose Mourinho and was recently criticised by the self-styled 'Special One' in a scathing public assessment of his performances. Balotelli: Inter's young striker shows his skills against Bologna two weeks ago The 19-year-old has started just five of 14 matches and after a poor show against Roma, Mourinho said: 'Balotelli? In my opinion he came close to a zero rating. I didn't like how he played. He is 19 but could have done much better.'Despite the interest, Inter president Massimo Moratti insists Balotelli is not for sale.'Balotelli is not and will not be on the market. This is definitive,' said Moratti, who played down a feud between the player and Mourinho.Mourinho left Balotelli out of his squadcompletely at the weekend, but Moratti said: 'It isalways something to be sorted between the player and the coach. This isalso due to his age. 'There is nothing serious behind all this. In short, it needs acertain continuity to learn to live together with the coach and withcertain rules. I do not think anything dramatic will happen.' Star man: Arsenal striker Cesc FabregasThe powerful 6ft 2in centre forward is thought to be keen on movingto the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal would more than double his£25,000 a week deal, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.However, Mourinho is keen to use the interest to try to engineer a swap deal for Gunners skipper Fabregas.Wenger would not contemplate swapping his Spain star, so has alternatives lined up. Sampdoria'sGiampaolo Pazzini, who is also admired by Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti,is in their sights.Reports in Italy say Arsenal areprepared to pay about £16m for the 25-year-old Italy striker, thoughSamp value him at closer to £23m.Another option is Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh, the Morocco striker targetted by Wenger in the summer. Arsenal target: Inter Milan star Mario BalotelliHowever, there was such a fall-out between Wenger and Bordeauxpresident Jean-Louis Triaud over the tug of war that the French clubhave indicated they would rather lose him for nothing at the end of theseason than do a deal in January.'As far as we are concerned, it is out of the question,' said Triaud. 'Marouane is a decisive player, and we have important challenges ahead in the league and the Champions League.'If we fail to achieve our goals, we will lose money. Anyway, we will not do anything without (head coach) Laurent Blanc's approval.'Chamakh, 25, is out of contract at the end of the season. Chelsea villain Ashley admits he loves silencing the Arsenal boo boysArsenal, Man City and Chelsea eye up £10m bid for Barcelona outcast ToureARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail