CorSport: ‘It cannot be done’ – why Milan’s Fofana pursuit is in question

By Ben Dixon -

With Paulo Fonseca looking to strengthen AC Milan’s midfield – both metaphorically and literally – Youssouf Fofana seems a perfect candidate to aid that. However, there are still some issues to overcome in the negotiations. 

There are so many things about the prospect of signing Fofana which makes a deal look perfect. As a player, he is the exact identikit that Fonseca is dreaming of, and he is young enough that the Rossoneri will, hopefully, profit in two ways from him – either he stays and does well, or they can earn a decent profit on him in a few years.

However, the deal must be closed first, and whilst the deal is effectively done between the player and Milan, there remains a distance between Monaco and the Diavolo.

As Corriere dello Sport (via Milan News) writes, there is still a €20 million disparity between the two clubs. Milan’s latest offer was around €14m, but the paper suggests that €35m is still the number in demand from the French club.

Interest exists from Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, but there is nothing concrete – other than the Rossoneri’s tabled offer. Therefore, there is, theoretically, no rush, but with the player seeking clarity on his future, the deal must be closed quickly.

Tags AC Milan Youssouf Fofana

46 Comments

  1. It’s funny how we went from “Fofana only wants Milan” and “deal done for 14M€ plus bonuses” to “Monaco was actually always asking for 35M€” and “deal needs to be closed quickly”

  2. Can’t help but to think that if Morata didn’t have that 13 mil RC, we wouldn’t have signed anyone ’till this very day.

  3. I am really beginning to question the competence of our management, in life you need to understand your capabilities and your limitations, if we cannot get a designated target because of the price. then why don’t we move to other targets, we are wasting precious time on him, we wasted time on Zirkzee, knowing fully well we could not afford him, then we end up buying a 31 year old player, why don’t we have other options…??

    1. The competence is there and they have shown that with the signings last season but I am however beginning to question the AMBITION of the owners Redbird and I’ve always supported them but I don’t like what they showing us this transfer window.

      There’s still a long way to go before the transfer window closes so we’ll see how it plays out.

    2. To be honest I think at this point in time Morata is a better buy then Zirkzee, Morata has a proven goal scoring recored where as Zirkzee Is much overated. In the long run Zirkzee would most likely be a better signing but I think a Morata type signing is what 2e need now. We need someone to deliver now, and with Morata’s experience, he would work well with Leao, Theo, Puli as somewhat of a general, where as Zirkzee would still have to be nurtured which is a luxury we do not have.

      1. That would all be true except Morata averaged less than 9 league goals per season over his 4 seasons in Serie A (in his prime).
        So he’s not really a proven goal scorer

      2. I fully agree. Zirkzee was never the striker Milan needed. Go back to an interview with Van Basten, he never wanted to endorse Zirkzee as a milan player.

  4. Pretty sure coraport said its a matter of hours a few days ago. It’s all bs. Only the guys at the table know what is really happening. So Milan and monaco management

    1. Yup but surely not 12 mil kind of low. Remember Musah? MV 18 mil, bough for 20 mil. Chuk, MV 25 mil, bought for 28 mil (20 + 8). Both with 1 year remaining in their contract too.

    2. “Player has only 1 year of contract remaining, therefore, his price should be lower” – this is the Propaganda that Milan created for YOU.

      Market sets the value, depending on demand and supply. If a player’s transfermarkt value is 30 million. It doesn’t mean Monaco MUST sell the player for cheaper “because he is on his final year of contract”. Amateur club namely, Manchester United entered the race, automatically means Monaco WILL ASK more.

      1. That’s not propaganda that’s how it works, why do you think man city only paid 50m for Haaland instead of his 150m transfer value. Did you start watching football yesterday? Nobody’s going to pay 35m, they’ll just wait for January and sign him for free, like what Calhanoglu, Donnarumma and Kessie did effectively. You people really lack intelligence.

        1. No need to call people names. Moreover if you are not as knowledgeable as you think. Halaland’s contract at Dortmund should be expired at 2024, so he’s certainly not in his last year. The reason why City got to pay so ‘cheap’ was simply because there’s a release clause on his Dortmund contract (guess who his agent was) that can be activated on summer 2022.

          The same release clause he has with City ranging from 175-200 mil (depending on the year). So take it easy.

      2. And yet history constantly proves that player values, or perhaps better said transfer fees vis-a-vis values, always drop with one year left on contract. Clubs lose leverage when the market says “I won’t pay 60M for this guy because in a year he can be signed for no transfer fee”. Of course Monaco “don’t have to sell”, but if they don’t then the player WILL leave for free in 2025. Most clubs, and I say most because apparently Milan love letting players walk for free, don’t like letting money walk out the door, so more often than not steep discounts can be head with 1 year left on contract.

  5. I am tired of this management. They cannot close any deal. Roma, Juve, Inter, Napoli are far ahead of us.

    Redbird please go. The American clown just sell it to someone who really love this club.

    1. They won’t sell until they make “profit”. In other words, until the stadium is built and makes enough profit for them to sell for a higher price than what they acquired Milan for.

  6. Is it that Milan are ready to add fofana or another player this discussion is getting longer by the end another club will sign him anyway let’s keep waiting

    1. Is it not you that posted above that the deals were done? We’ve just signed them and you’re worried that another club will also sign them, in January or?

  7. The more you chase him the further away he gets. He’s going to Inter for over 2 million from some jerk management

  8. Is it that Milan are ready to add fofana or another player this discussion is getting longer by the end another club will Singh him anyway let’s keep waiting

  9. No need of signing him let’s use the midfield we have like Benercer or musah for defensive midfield then rejnder for central midfield our problem is attacking midfield only so I advised we go for Lazar sarmadzic and ritsu Doan of Bundesliga that can is skillful and deadly he can destroy defensive opponent

  10. Milan’s management have to be the worst negotiators of any major European club. Put in a lowball offer, wait around for weeks in the vain hope that it’ll be accepted, then cluelessly scramble for any available freebies at the end of the market when none of the original targets are purchased.

    1. That’s how you do business you don’t overpay and end up with the likes of Origi, Castillejo, Lucas Biglia, Bonucci etc. or 39m for Paqueta and 38m for De Ketelaere. Nearly 80m down the toilet. Also we’ve won the best run club and fastest growing club in Europe award every season for the past 4 seasons, but you’d rather have us run like Manchester United. Why don’t u go support them and keep your nose out of my City and club. Nobody pays 35m for a player that’s a free agent in 6 months time, seems more like you got your football knowledge from under a tree.

      1. And what’s your take on making Chuk the most expensive transfer last summer although he was serving final year of his contract at Vilarreal? Or Musah for 20 millions while serving last year of his contract at Valencia?

        Why you conveniently leave that out of your “overpaying” rants?

  11. Worst management in the whole world can’t even close a simple deal, at this point pay the 35m he’s a very very good player

    1. If we offered them 20 mil instead of 12 mil at the start of negotiations it would prob be done deal now for a couple mil more
      Yeah it’s beyond frustrating , get these players signed , should be offering 5 mil more for everyone of them instead of lowballing and opening for other clubs with a reasonable offer to come in and get the player

  12. Why on earth we let americans buy the club at first place if we know they couldn’t afford to buy players which is cost more than €20m plus. Why not sell it to Arabs at first place.

Comments are closed

Serie A Standings

Live football scores . Current table, fixtures & results.