Milan Transfer Market: Cardinale Speeds Up Sales, Meets Face-to-Face With 4 Players Who Have Been Cut
Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has returned to Milanello not only for a transfer meeting with Ruben Amorim and the other Rossoneri executives, but above all to speak with the players set to leave in the coming days. Due to budget and transfer market constraints, the Rossoneri have an immediate need to offload the star players deemed surplus to requirements by Amorim, and Cardinale has scheduled several one-on-one meetings that could prove decisive.
Cardinale will speak with Fikayo Tomori, who has so far rejected all offers for a transfer. There is strong interest in the English defender from the Premier League, with Aston Villa in the lead. The same goes for Christopher Nkunku, who has no intention of returning to the Bundesliga or Leipzig and is instead aiming for the Premier League: the Rossoneri want 30 million for the French forward, but there has not yet been a concrete bid from English clubs.
Cardinale will also meet with Youssouf Fofana, who is no longer part of the plans: Juventus has backed out for now, and the midfielder’s agents are awaiting offers from Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, which had previously made inquiries. Milan is asking for 20 million euros for his transfer.
The most anticipated negotiation will undoubtedly be with Rafael Leao, whom Milan does not want to let go for less than 50 million euros. So far, only Galatasaray has come close to that figure, with an offer of 40 million plus bonuses, but the Portuguese star is far from convinced about a move to Turkey; he wants to stay in one of Europe’s top three or four leagues. Leao is primarily looking toward the Premier League, but so far nothing concrete has landed on agent Jorge Mendes’ desk.
Meanwhile, the departures of Santiago Gimenez and Samuele Ricci are imminent. Milan is waiting for Porto, which has put the deal on hold but has reached an agreement with the Mexican forward and is expected to finalize the transfer shortly, once the last details are worked out. As for Ricci, an agreement has been reached with Como for a loan with an option to buy.
