Arsenal could be helped in their attempts to capture Italian star Mario Balotelli.
Balotelli’s sponsorship Puma could provide a helping hand to seal a deal to bring Balotelli to the Emirates this summer.
With Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reportedly being handed a £100m transfer budget to spend this summer, and it is understood that Balotelli head his wanted list.
Puma would see Balotelli’s return to the Premier League as a major rise in their popularity and may be willing to offer money to seal the deal.
Only last week, AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi was unsure where Balotelli would be at the end of the summer and said: “Will Balotelli stay? We have not decided about the market yet, neither for signings or for sales,” he said.
“We are evaluating, anyway, new players, but to take decisions we must wait for the new coach.”
Arsenal are keen to add to their attacking ranks, but whether Balotelli will prove to be a bridge too far remains to be seen.
By Ollie Brown