Milan Transfer Market: Setback for the Defender Amorim Had His Eye On. The Alternatives

His absence from league play had given Milan fans hope, but Gonçalo Inacio is actually further away from the Rossoneri. The Sporting Lisbon defender is the Rossoneri’s top target to bolster their defense, and he has been specifically requested by Ruben Amorim, who coached him in the past and helped him break out.

But the latest comments from Sporting Lisbon president Varandas seem to rule out this possibility: “There will certainly be some players leaving as the transfer window closes, but Tiago Inacio won’t be leaving—he’s not among the players set to depart. Why was he on the bench? I’m not a coach…”.

In recent days, Barcelona has also been linked to the player, but at the moment the Blaugrana—like the Rossoneri themselves—have not yet made a concrete move. Tiago Inacio has a release clause of 60 million euros: Sporting might accept an offer in the range of 40–45 million, but so far no one has actually come forward with one.

The top alternative to Inacio is Tiago Gabriel of Lecce: the Portuguese player is being targeted by several Premier League clubs, as well as Benfica. The Rossoneri have also been linked to Manchester City star Ruben Dias and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez: both are very difficult targets to land.

Milan currently seems more determined to sign an attacking midfielder: Amorim himself is said to want one. The list of candidates is long and ambitious: in addition to Brahim Diaz, who is leaving Real Madrid, the names being tracked include Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri—for whom the Rossoneri have reportedly already submitted a loan offer with a 40 million buyout clause, which was rejected by the Gunners—and Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza.