For weeks, AC Milan have been dreaming of one player in midfield, and following France’s elimination from the European Championship, dreams may become reality in a short while.
In this mercato, there is a big player needed in every key area of the pitch – central defence, central midfield, and a striker. In the other areas, there are still several players in the running to be signed, and whilst Milan may have a dream candidate, none of their pursuits are the same as the one for Youssouf Fofana.
The French midfielder has been seen as the one for weeks at Milan now, and even though other players have been tempting, it looks like Fofana will be the one to arrive, according to this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below).
Heart set on Milan
There is already an agreement between the Frenchman and the Rossoneri that he will arrive on a five-year contract, with a salary of around €2.5 million per season – a €1.5m increase on his current contract, which has never been renewed since joining AS Monaco.
His contract can, of course, rise through bonuses, and there are certain factors which need to be finalised, but the will of the player is there. The aim of him and his entourage is to be a Milan player next season, and he has reiterated this following the conclusion of his Euro 2024 journey.
Next steps
Monaco have granted the Frenchman a three-week holiday due to his part in the European tournament, but he is hoping to be with Paulo Fonseca at Milanello by the end of this holiday rather than returning to his current team.
He desires to play for an ambitious team that wants to win trophies, which is why his heart is calling for the Diavolo, and the feeling is matched by the club, who only want Fofana.
Given the Frenchman’s contract expires next summer, Milan are fine waiting until next year if they must, and they have confidence that eventually he will wear Rossoneri colours, but there is a desire to get a deal done quickly, especially now his calendar is free and a deal has been agreed.
Excellent player and addition, if it happens which I hope. He is just what we need.
Excellent player, yes he is.
Exactly what we need? I don’t know about that.
If what we are looking for is a defensive midfielder to patrol that no man’s land between the defense and midfield, then his defensive numbers suggest that he’s definitely not what we need.
He would make a suitable replacement if Milan are to sell Tijjani Reijnders.
Milan need a HARD defensive midfielder. Someone like Ugarte.
According to Moretto, Milan doesn’t want to spend more than 12M€-15M€ while Monaco is asking for 25M€.
I think this is going to drag for a while with no clear outcome. Some EPL clubs are apparently interested, so they might snatch him from us.
Doubt. If they want someone they get the deal over the line. Last summer showed us this.
Apparently we’re beating out Nottingham Forrest to sign him 🤔
A leader a powerhouse, an amazing Kessie replacement. Better late than never!
“He desires to play for an ambitious team that wants to win trophies”
He’ll probably join arsenal so
Honestly I think we’re more likely to win a trophy than Arsenal. That team is simply cursed.
Good versatile player. He has great stamina able to cover multiple roles. With Maignen, Theo and him we will have good crop of French national team players.
i still think 18+add ons seals this. the question is, will he be enough in the midfield or do we need another DM?
Ya sure apparently every player agrees to come – EXCEPT the selling club lol. So we have heard this song before. We agree to terms w the player – then we low ball the selling club, then we wait and wait and haggle and haggle until another club swoops in and takes the player and gives them a better salary – and the player despite wanting to come to Milan – gets cold feet because you know when you really want something in life the best way to show it is through hesitation and delay, and we of course lose the player yet again….ahhhhh!!! This isnt predictable at all 🙈
Well said.
Long term this gives Milan a very bad reputation and clubs will not want to deal with us.
1st they tell a club they are interested in a player, ask what price the club wants and say, ok can we speak to the player
Then with permission to negotiate, they agree terms with the player.
Then they go back to the club and offer half of what they were asking.
They then ask the player to push their club to sell
This is a sure fire way to lose any respect