Mauro Icardi is one of the most lethal strikers in Europe at the moment and with ten goals in 13 appearances in all competitions this season.
The striker shared Serie A’s Capocannoniere title for the league’s top scorer last season (alongs with Lazio’s Ciro Immobile), having netted 29 times in the league, and could take the accolade for the third time before his 27th birthday if he carries on in the same form in 2018/19.
There are several top clubs crying out for an out-and-out number nine to lead the line, and with Icardi’s reported release clause set at a not particularly off-putting €110m, Inter may have a fight to keep their captain for much longer.
Here are five clubs that could certainly use Icardi’s goals…
4. Chelsea
Despite a recent mini-resurgence, the Stamford Bridge jury is still out on Álvaro Morata.
The Spaniard has five Premier League goals to his name in 2018/19, but has often flattered to deceive and rarely looked like the dominant, reliable centre forward Chelsea have needed since the exit of Diego Costa.
With Michy Batshuayi farmed out on loan and Olivier Giroud a peripheral figure, Chelsea are in need of an instinctive striker like Icardi, who makes the right runs into the area and knows where the goal is.
His movement causes defenders problems, which was evident against AC Milan in the recent Derby della Madonnina, and he is a deadly finisher, who can score all kinds of goals – just ask Tottenham!
Maurizio Sarri has been linked with a litany of forward options from Callum Wilson to Krzysztof Piątek, but surely none represent the sure-fire quality of Icardi.
3. Real Madrid
It has been difficult for Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo up front and his absence has been visible.
Ronaldo wasn’t just a goalscorer, he was instrumental to the manner in which the Real Madrid played, getting the ball out wide, linking-up with his creative teammates in Isco and Luka Modrić and making the darting runs, from which he scored many.
The side haven’t found a suitable replacement to score the goals, with Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and returning striker Mariano Diaz all failing to fill the void.
Icardi would be the ideal candidate to try and fill the void at Madrid. He is a target man and selfish poacher like Ronaldo, who would thrive off the service from Madrid’s playmakers.
2. Manchester United
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho’s faith in number nine Romelu Lukaku seems to be wavering.
The Belgian has failed to turn up in the big games for United, with his only goal against last season’s top-five, coming against former side Chelsea back in February.
Without a goal since September, Lukaku has just four goals in 14 appearances in all competitions this season.
On his day, Lukaku can be one of the most deadly strikers in the world. He demonstrated his ability for Belgium in the World Cup, but his performances in a United shirt, differ widely to his displays for the Belgians. Despite having the aerial power and presence to keep possession and link-up with teammates, he hasn’t got a great first touch, causing many opportunities to be rushed and usually squandered.
Icardi could be a vast improvement, considering his ability to control the ball well, which allows him enough time to pick a corner and find the net. The Argentine’s timing of his runs is also an aspect that would certainly improve this United side.
1. Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid are a side struggling to find goals in the league this season. The Rojiblancos have just 16 goals in 12 league matches and despite losing just once in La Liga, they have drawn five matches, demonstrating a lack of cutting-edge and a failure to kill off games.
One would think that with Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa, Los Colchoneros would be firing on all cylinders, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Griezmann has struggled for goals since his World Cup win, while Costa is yet to score in La Liga in nine outings.
The former Chelsea striker has been linked with a move away in January, with the Chinese Super League a potential destination.
Griezmann and Costa are two versatile strikers. The Frenchman is agile and skillful with a wand of a left foot, while the Spaniard is a powerful player, who bullies defenders. However, Icardi is very much a combination of the two. He knows how to get the better of defenders and tussle with his more physical opponents to keep hold of the ball. He possesses good trickery to create a yard of space and utilises his pace to make darting runs.
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