Arsenal closing in on deal 4 Balotelli / As Mourinho Target Cesc Fabregas

Mario Balotelli and Loic Remy Are Arsenal Target, Cesc Fabregas will be wooed by Chelsea's World Cup stars and Thomas Ince heads to Hull

► Arsene Wenger feels he can tame £20m Mario Balotelli - and add Loic Remy to the ranks
► Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea stars to say how much they want Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea

Mario Balotelli is Arsenal's first choice to be their big striker signing this summer.

As revealed some time ago by Football Grapevine, AC Milan have decided to sell Balotelli this summer and have offered him to various Premier League clubs most notably Arsenal and Liverpool.

Two weeks ago this column stated that the Gunners are closing in.

This has now been confirmed by sources close to Arsenal - who are more keen than Liverpool.

And I gather Balotelli prefers the idea of a move to London. Ahead of England’s opening World Cup game against Italy it can be revealed that middle men are trying to piece a deal together to see Arsenal secure the services of Balotelli in a £20million deal.

Balotelli signed for AC Milan after a turbulent time at Manchester City in a £17 million deal 18 months ago.

The Gunners have also been linked with Loic Remy, who is on offer from QPR, after a season-long loan at Newcastle.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has asked all his top stars to lure Cesc Fabregas with kindness.

Mourinho wants to ensure Manchester City don’t win the £30m race for Fabregas who, as predicted here, has been shown the door by Barcelona.

I gather Mourinho has told all his top players who are at the World Cup to say in media interviews how much they would love former Arsenal star Fabregas to join them at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s need to lure Fabregas has been heightened by the news that Brazil midfielder Ramires is a target for Real Madrid on the back of Frank Lampard being on his way to New York City.

Manchester City though are still strong candidates to persuade Fabregas given that they fear Yaya Toure will leave for PSG, who having signed Chelsea’s David Luiz, also want another Blue in Eden Hazard.