Chelsea’s hopes to sign Mauro Icardi have seemingly been dashed after Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini announced plans to sign Erik Lamela as his strike partner.
The Blues have been interested in Argentine striker Icardi for some-time having watched closely as his contract renewal talks continued throughout this season at Inter Milan.
A summer move was expected with boss Jose Mourinho keen to replace ageing Didier Drogba with the former Barcelona youth product.
However, Inter boss Roberto Mancini is planning on ‘big’ things next season at the San Siro and wants to keep Icardi at the club and partner him with Spurs winger Erik Lamela, who he plans to sign this summer.
Lamela arrived at White Hart Lane from Roma in a reported £25.7m deal in August 2013. Despite entering the Premier League with a real promising reputation, the Argentine has struggled to adapt to life in England, and is expected to make the move back to Italy in the summer.
The 23-year-old has only made 24 Premier League starts for Tottenham, and has only found the net twice but Mancini is a keen admirer of the Argentina international.