Inter Milan owner Erick Thohir is reportedly fighting to keep Chelsea target Mauro Icardi at the club.
A source close to Stamford Bridge told Football Express News that the Argentina international is on their radar as the Blues look to embark on an overhaul of their strikeforce, which misfired last season.
And according to Italian source TuttoSport, they have been joined in the race for his signature by La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, causing great anxiety in the corridors of power at the San Siro.
Ambitious Thohir is determined to keep hold of the 21-year-old and to that end is prepared to offer him a lucrative contract extension to ensure he ignores overtures from England and Spain.
A significant increase in both his basic salary and bonuses will be put on the table in the coming weeks in the hope that his representatives advise him to put pen to paper before the new season gets started.
He showed great promise during the 2013-14 campaign, getting his name on the scoresheet nine times in 22 appearances, some of which came from the substitutes’ bench.
Atletico are on the lookout for a striker to replace Spain hitman Diego Costa, who is expected to complete his move to Chelsea shortly.