AC Milan have Jakub Kiwior high on their list of targets ahead of the January transfer window, and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has refused to rule out potential exits next month.
Fabrizio Romano gave us an exclusive update regarding Milan’s pursuit of Kiwior yesterday, confirming that there is interest but that at the moment it seems a difficult deal to do.
Calciomercato.com writes how Milan are battling a defensive emergency with Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw, Marco Pellegrino and Simon Kjaer all currently out injured, leaving Fikayo Tomori as the only fit senior centre-back.
Speaking of Tomori, the management are looking for an operation like the one that brought the England international to Milan from Chelsea in the winter of 2021, and among the many names explored is Jakub Kiwior.
The Polish defender is not getting many starts this season at Arsenal under the orders of Mikel Arteta who, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Luton in the Premier League, gave Milan some home.
Responding to a direct question about Ramsdale’s possible departure towards Newcastle, the Spaniard said: “We always want to improve and add to what we have. For this reason I cannot guarantee that any Arsenal player will not leave in January. I cannot say it towards Newcastle or any other club.”
A farewell in January is a viable option for Kiwior, who spent 18 months at Spezia and therefore knows Serie A well. Milan made him their top target to strengthen the defence, but despite Arteta’s comments the talks will not be easy.
If the Gunners were to let him leave they would look to raise funds to sign other players and thus would ask for a permanent deal, and for a figure which does not result in a loss in relation to the €25m invested to sign him in January from Spezia.
Milan, on the other hand, are pushing for a ‘Tomori-style’ operation that would be a paid loan with an option to buy in the summer. There is a distance to bridge, but the management are not giving up.
Of all the defenders we are linked with Kiwor is the best option and an upgrade to Kalulu and Thiaw.
Milan should consider doing the same with Beto who is not having a good spell at Everton.
Beto would be an upgrade to Jovic and a loan with option to buy would be a smart move for January.
Fine if they signed Kiwior. Paid loan with obligation to buy at 20m should do it. Maybe they can even pull off a master stroke and make it an 18 month paid loan with obligation in 2025. Beto, however, doesn’t convince me.