Milan Transfer Market: The Player Left Out by Amorim Could End Up with Juventus
The Milan transfer market remains in full swing following the team’s victory in Turin on the first day of the league season. The Rossoneri management continues to work on both potential signings and, above all, outgoing transfers. Among the hottest topics is the situation involving Christopher Nkunku, who was left off the bench even for the match against Torino and whose future could be decided in the coming hours.
Leipzig and Newcastle have expressed interest in the French forward. The German club is reported to have proposed a paid loan of 4 million euros with an option to buy set at 28 million, while the English club is leaning toward lower figures, though it would make up for this by including a mandatory buyout clause. Leipzig holds a clear advantage, but keep an eye out for a last-minute move from Juventus.
It’s worth noting that Milan has no intention of going below 30 million euros for Nkunku—a figure that represents the minimum valuation set by the Rossoneri management for the former Chelsea player, who was acquired last summer for 37 million and had a generally positive season in a Milan jersey. In recent weeks, in addition to Leipzig and Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund had also expressed interest in the Frenchman, with the Milan club aiming to spark a full-blown bidding war to maximize the proceeds from the sale. Newcastle, for its part, has reportedly already reached a verbal agreement with the player’s agents on contract terms, but has yet to submit a formal offer to the club.
Nkunku’s situation isn’t the only thorny issue on the transfer front. Rafael Leao’s future also remains uncertain: Milan does not want to let him go for less than 50 million euros, but so far only Galatasaray has come close to that threshold with an offer of 40 million plus bonuses, which was rejected by the Portuguese player, who is not convinced about a move to Turkey. The most concrete option at the moment involves Gasperini’s Roma, with the Giallorossi ready to present a loan-to-buy deal worth approximately 4 million with an obligation to buy for 41 million, leveraging the “growth decree” to cover 80% of the player’s salary.
It should not be forgotten that Roma itself had recently been at the center of a speculative, spectacular swap deal with Milan: the Rossoneri had set their sights on Matias Soulé, an Argentine attacking midfielder who is not central to Gasperini’s plans but is highly regarded by Amorim, with Nkunku proposed as the counterpart. The deal, orchestrated by super-agent Jorge Mendes, has not yet been finalized, however, and the Frenchman’s future remains tied to the outcome of these parallel negotiations.
