Paulo Fonseca is already working with the AC Milan management on potential signings and he has indicated the centre-back that he wants, a report claims.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports that Milan could go back in for Lilian Brassier of Brest, a defender that was extensively linked during the January window when the club were going through an injury crisis at the back.
With a contract expiring in June 2025, the feeling is that he could leave Brest for €10-12m this summer, not much for a player who was a big part of a team that secured a Champions League spot against the odds.
The Frenchman was Milan’s number one target in the first part of January, when Stefano Pioli was sure he would get a centre-back to strengthen the rearguard. Brassier would have willingly come to Italy but the negotiation went cold and Pioli only got Gabbia, who returned from Villarreal.
Paulo Fonseca, who will be the next head coach Milan, has just lost the race for the Champions League (direct qualification at least, Lille still make the qualification phase) against Brassier’s Brest. He saw the 24-year-old up close and liked what he saw.
It’s natural that he spoke about him with Milan, but in the meantime there is competition from Bologna and Wolfsburg, with the Bundesliga side being the ones who are currently leading the race.
What might hurt Milan in all of this is that their priority at the moment is to sign a striker before then evaluating the remaining budget for other roles, but Brassier would no doubt jump at the chance to follow Fonseca to Italy.
