Rumour: Mario Balotelli emerges as Arsene Wenger’s No. 1 striker target

According to the Mirror, Mario Balotelli is Arsene Wenger’s prime striker target in the transfer window.

AC Milan are looking to offload the divisive Italian this summer and have already contacted various Premier League suitors (including Arsenal and Liverpool) to discuss a potential sale.

Sources within Arsenal are said to have confirmed that the Gunners are edging towards a deal, having fought off the competition from Liverpool.

Shepherd understands that Balotelli would prefer a switch to the capital rather than Merseyside and that the 23-year old’s representatives are thrashing out a £20 million deal with Milan behind the scenes.

Arsenal are widely expected to bolster their forward line this transfer window having spent the majority of last campaign with only one senior striker (Olivier Giroud).

Balotelli could be the solution, having expressed a desire to leave the Serie A after growing increasingly exasperated by the systemic racial abuse in Italy’s top tier.

“Mario wants to leave Milan in January,” his agent, Mino Raiola, told The National late last year.

“I don’t know where he will go, but we will look at different options.”Mario Balotelli only won 35% of his headed duels last season.