Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Mauro Icardi’s agent after a host of Premier League clubs were said to have scouted the Inter Milan striker during his two-goal performance in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Palermo.

Tancredi Palmeri of BeIN Sports provided the lowdown:

Icardi is currently in the process of negotiating a new contract at the San Siro, according to Serie A specialist David Amoyal, who writes on behalf of Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio:

The negotiation continues, while a divorce is still a possibility. Inter and Icardi have ongoing conversations about an extension for the striker who currently earns €1 million net. The club has offered €2.8 million a season, but they are still discussing the image rights.

Inter recently changed their policy, they want to control all of those revenues, but they are willing to make an exception and leave Icardi 50 percent.

Amoyal notes that, “despite the ongoing talks, it’s possible Icardi leaves in the summer.” The 21-year-old’s current contract runs until 2018, so his value isn’t likely to take a massive dip for another two seasons.

Inter are likely preserving their own interests with negotiations—perhaps inserting a buyout clause—to ensure prospective suitors pay top dollar for the man who has netted 13 goals in the Italian division this season, reported by WhoScored.com.

Icardi’s brushes with controversy always threaten to lower his value, however. He recently got into a heated confrontation with Inter fans after the team’s defeat to Sassuolo, reported Marcus Christenson of The Guardian. He is also famed for marrying the ex-wife of former team-mate Maxi Lopez, who he failed to shake hands with on the pitch in April 2014.

The youngster certainly picked an excellent time to perform well if scouts were present against Palermo, though, noted by WhoScored.com:

Icardi’s game is built around a natural fire, the kind which you wouldn’t want to completely extinguish in fear of him losing his edge. Those monitoring the player will undoubtedly be making note of the silly antics, but when all is said and done, Icardi’s ability to score goals will signal his true value.

Chelsea currently play a lone striker, so it’s difficult to suggest he would receive much playing time at Stamford Bridge. Both Diego Costa and Loic Remy are capable of spearheading the line every week, while Didier Drogba’s time is running out as a top-level footballer. Whether Icardi would settle for being one of three quality options is debateable.

Manchester United’s interest is curious. Louis van Gaal needs to make a decision over Radamel Falcao’s permanent signing at the end of the season. If he doesn’t bother to retain the Colombian, United will have ample funds to spend on a new striker. The Red Devils need pace up top, however, particularly if Robin van Persie is to continue slowing down.

Liverpool already possess one hot-headed Italian in the form of Mario Balotelli, a punt which has paid off with exactly zero Premier League goals this season. Balotelli’s potential exit would be among the most interest-generating moves of the summer, with other potentially interesting deals recently outlined by Bleacher Report UK’s Ryan Bailey and Matteo Bonetti:

Manchester City’s reported interest appears misplaced after the club spent £28 million on Wilfried Bony in January. Considering Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic still reside at the Etihad Stadium, there’s little room for Icardi right now. 

Should Icardi continue to mop up in the box with regular goals, the controversies and headlines won’t matter. Should he fail to maintain a consistent run of form, these stories will be amplified. There’s certainly a rough diamond on offer here, a player who can go far if he focuses, but Icardi is a risk. 

Jose Mourinho has proven he doesn’t mind taking a chance in the past—Costa is hardly a squeaky-clean player—so it wouldn’t be beyond the Portuguese manager to submit a bid for the Italian and, indeed, get the best out of him.

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