Chelsea and Manchester United need to stump up €40m for Inter Milan captain

Chelsea have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Argentina international Mauro Icardi this summer, according to Tuttosport.

The defending Premier League champions, who face Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, have been alerted about the possible availability of Inter Milan’s captain at the end of the current 2015-16 campaign.

The 23-year-old, who made his international debut against Uruguay back in October 2013, has scored an impressive 11 league goals in 24 Serie A appearances for the Italian giants so far this season.

Icardi, who arrived at the San Siro from Sampdoria back in the summer of 2013 for a fee thought to be around €11.7m, could be offloaded by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini at the end of this term.

That news has alerted the interest of both English top-flight outfits Chelsea and Manchester United, although the report suggests Inter will not discuss any potential deal unless a fee of at least €40m has been submitted for their prized asset.