Chelsea have made the first move to sign in-demand Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi.

The 25-year-old Inter captain is a target for a number of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid, after scoring 22 goals in 26 appearances for the Serie A side this season.

Icardi has scored 103 goals in 180 appearances in Serie A, meaning he has scored more league goals at the age of 25 than both Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Across the top five leagues, only Lionel Messi [169 goals], Sergio Aguero [109] and Wayne Rooney [107] had better totals at the age of 25.

Icardi is on the radar of all the top teams and Chelsea have attempted to beat their rivals to the punch with Spanish outlet AS reporting that they have tabled a £55m (€63m) Offer for the Argentine.

Italian journalist Fernando Czyz also confirmed that Icardi’s wife and agent, Wanda Nara, has received the offer.

In today’s hyper-inflated market, this is a laughable bid from Chelsea. Icardi is one of the top strikers in Europe and is easily worth twice.

The Premier League club spent £60m on Alvaro Morata in the summer, but are far from convinced about his future as the Spaniard has scored once since the turn of the year.

Inter are expected to reject the bid, which is has been made as more of a statement of intent rather than a serious offer.

Icardi, who scored four goals in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Sampdoria, has denied that he intends to leave the San Siro this summer, saying this month that he can see himself at the club when ‘he is 30 years old’.

‘I hope to have a long career here,’ the forward continued. ‘I want to win titles in the Inter shirt; this club hasn’t won anything for too long.’

The Argentina international’s current contract expires in 2021 and has a release clause of €100m.