Milan Transfer Market: Amorim Calls for at Least Three Top-Tier Signings. The Names Discussed in the New Meeting with Cardinale
Milan owner Gerry Cardinale is back in Italy, where the Rossoneri are set to face two decisive weeks in the transfer window. At the moment, the situation is still up in the air, with several departures and arrivals yet to be finalized, but as early as next Sunday, the Rossoneri will take the field for their Serie A opener against Torino.
Cardinale will meet with Ruben Amorim and the Rossoneri executives at a new summit to discuss the transfer market: the Portuguese coach wants at least three high-level signings, specifically a defender, a winger, and an attacking midfielder. He doesn’t want gambles but rather established, top-tier players capable of raising the team’s overall quality, like previous signings Gonçalo Ramos and Mario Gila.
For the defense, the top target is Tiago Gabriel, whom Lecce values at between 25 and 30 million euros. Milan could offer some surplus players to lower the price, but negotiations are proving difficult. For the wing, the spotlight is on Lazio’s Nuno Tavares, who could be part of a swap deal involving Tomori. But transfer officials are also considering other names, such as Fiorentina’s Dodo.
Up front, Amorim is expecting a high-profile signing: among the players on the radar are Brahim Diaz, on his way out of Real Madrid; “El Mala” from Cologne; Can Uzun of Eintracht Frankfurt; and Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal. Milan has reportedly already made a move for the latter, but the Gunners have rejected the offer of a loan with an option to buy set at 40 million.
On the outgoing front, Odogu—one of the players dropped by the Portuguese coach—is set to leave on a dry loan to Toulouse. Santiago Gimenez is now very close to joining Porto, with whom he has reportedly reached a personal agreement through 2030: the deal is expected to be finalized as a loan with an option to buy set at around 20 million euros. Christopher Nkunku, on the other hand, is being targeted by Newcastle, which is reported to have reached a verbal agreement with the Frenchman’s agents: the Magpies will now have to negotiate with Milan, which is asking for at least 30 million for the former Chelsea player and aims to spark a bidding war among the various interested clubs.
The situation involving Rafael Leao deserves a separate discussion, as it is intertwined with the dynamics of the transfer market. The Portuguese coach has reportedly given the green light to sell the No. 10, who is not considered central to the team’s plans, and Milan has lowered his asking price from 50–60 million to around 40 million euros. Galatasaray remains in the running, having already offered Leao a contract worth 12 million net per season, but the Portuguese player’s true goal remains the Premier League, which, however, has not yet produced any concrete offers. Also worth keeping an eye on is the situation of Youssouf Fofana, another player deemed surplus to requirements by Amorim: Juventus is following him with interest, and Giovanni Carnevali is reportedly considering a double signing from Milan, bringing Fikayo Tomori to Turin as well for a fee of around 15 million euros.
