Chelsea await decision from £22m striker Mauro Icardi as Paul Pogba hopes are dealt a blow

 
Stalling: Icardi is aware of Chelsea's interest and has not signed a new deal at Inter
Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images
Simon Johnson6 May 2015

Chelsea remain hopeful striker Mauro Icardi will reject a new contract at Inter Milan to join them in the summer, but face being priced out of any move for Paul Pogba.

As revealed by Standard Sport in February, Chelsea stepped up their interest in Icardi in view of strengthening their frontline in the summer.

The Argentina international has scored 20 goals this season, but Inter were confident they had agreed a new contract with the 22-year-old last month.

However, Icardi is aware of Chelsea's interest and has significantly still not put pen to paper on the deal.

Chelsea are prepared to pay Inter £22m for his signature and offer significantly more than the £38,000-a-week, after tax, salary he has been promised at the San Siro.

While Icardi has kept stating publicly his desire is to remain at Inter, he admitted earlier this week that negotiations with the club were 'at a difficult point'.

Chelsea want to improve the back-up options for first choice centre forward Diego Costa and while Didier Drogba has revealed he won't be retiring, the 37-year-old is expected to play elsewhere with the MLS his most likely destination.

Chelsea have also been linked with Atletico Madrid's Antonie Griezmann and Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette.

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The latter has scored an impressive 29 goals in 33 appearances for the French club this term and is valued at £25m.

But he is now a target for Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint Germain and already admitted he would prefer to stay in France.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's interest in Juventus star Paul Pogba has suffered a further setback with Real Madrid joining the hunt.

Pogba is valued in excess of £60m and while the Italian club keep stating the midfielder is not for sale, that hasn't put some of Europe's biggest clubs off.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi admits he has already held talks with the former Manchester United academy product.

It is believed he rejected a salary worth around £200,000-a-week to move to the French capital.

Chelsea's highest paid player is Eden Hazard on the same figure and they are unlikely to go any higher to land Pogba.

Barcelona are also keen to secure the France international's signature, while Real Madrid have now joined the hunt.

Pogba's agent Mino Raiola was spotted going into Real Madrid's hotel in Turin on the eve of their semi-final against Juventus last night.

The Spanish giants are looking to use reserve team coach and former France international Zinedine Zidane to help them in their pursuit.

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