AC Milan have been forced to identify alternatives to Sven Botman as Lille have put up a wall to both the Rossoneri and to Newcastle United, a report claims.
According to Calciomercato.com, Botman is the profile that Milan had identified to replace the injured Simon Kjaer and form part of the defensive core moving forward, but the chances of him arriving in the January window are now virtually zero.
The Ligue 1 champions have rejected a second offer worth €35m plus bonuses from cash-rich Newcastle because they want to keep the Dutchman at least until the end of the season, with a change of heart only possible if a €40m+ offer came in.
Milan are now looking at other targets and Abdou Diallo remains an option but only if PSG open to the idea of a loan, while Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga and Empoli’s Mattia Viti remain on the list.
Now, directors Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara want to carry out an operation like the Tomori one – that being a loan with option to buy – hoping that it will bring the same results.
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