Arsenal may have to pay £35m for Balotelli, Aurier deal agreed

Italian striker's price increased by £10m as Wenger begins World Cup spending spree

Mario Balotelli
(Image credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

The future of Mario Balotelli remains as unclear as a Roy Hodgson game plan. According to Goal.com, Arsenal "may have to pay up to £35m" in order to sign the bonkers Italian frontman, £10m more than originally stated. It appears that Milan have suddenly decided the former Manchester City striker is worth more than the initial evaluation and are waiting to see Arsenal's reaction to their new demand.

As we revealed last week, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is believed to have met Balotelli and his agent, Mino Raiola, in Brazil and a deal is close to being agreed. "Arsenal are a fantastic club," Railoa told Sky Sports, and when asked at the weekend if he was on his way to the Emirates, Balotelli replied: "I'm concentrating on the national team and the World Cup... what comes later, we will see. I know nothing."

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.