More so than ever, the football mercato is inflated, and the value of players increases at a rate we have maybe not seen before. Unfortunately, this is the summer when AC Milan need to recruit a striker, but they would prefer two, which will cost.
Recruitment is never easy, but working on a budget that must satisfy signings in four areas, whilst also leaving budget aside for opportunities is an increasingly difficult prospect. For Milan, the signing of Joshua Zirkzee seemed feasible until it reached the €55-60 million range, but news of his release clause returned them to the favourites for his signature.
However, his agent is now halting a move, stating it will cost €15 million in additional commission fees for a move to occur. A fee that the Rossoneri are trying to avoid by any means necessary, as we reported last night.
Additionally, a move for their second preference, Artem Dovbyk, is looking less likely, with news about the Ukrainian striker’s interest from Italy and Spain.
Today, Alfredo Pedulla uploaded a video titled ‘It’s all about money’ to his YouTube channel, to take stock on the debacle, and his words have been relayed by Radio Rossonera.
“Football has become a business. Teams are businesses and footballers have also become businesses. My criterion is one: if they offer me a better job, I will go where they pay me more.”
The possible Dovbyk-Morata market plot…
“Dovbyk now has a 40 million clause, he is being approached by Napoli. He wants to see if Atletico Madrid need a striker, especially if Morata will return to Italy. Milan have been following Dovbyk, but there is money here too: 40 million clause, last year it was 7 plus bonuses. Napoli’s first option remains Lukaku. Morata will be the talk of the town later on.”
It’s obvious that the policy is to “invest” without taking big risks. Last summer they recruited 20M€ players mostly, probably hoping that they can resell them for more, but even if they fail they can still get something and the budget stays clean. It was the idea behind De Ketelaere, no loss. 40M€ is fine for a young striker with upside, considering the value of such position on the market. 55M€ is more risky.
What is stupid here is that they plan to recruit him for months but they didn’t know about that commission? In the light of what Raimondo said, they’re probably waiting for the Euro to end in order to speak to Zirkee himself. Something that they should have done before. The problem is that before the end of the Euro, another club could pay his release clause and many other strikers won’t be available anymore. The “wait and see/monitoring” situation again. We really need someone with solid football business connections and knowledge at the helm. Not some video scout or some traders.
I don’t get the commission hiccup either. This has to have been a known price. So my best guess is deep inside they are prepared to pay this, but are attempting to negotiate it down.
Unless of course, Kia has alternate plans.
The market is not inflated. Zirkzee infact is a rare bargain. Redbird are just miserable.
A rare bargain? What are you smoking? He scored 11 Serie A goals this year, I wouldn’t pay 15M for that lack of production. As a comparison, Matias Soule scored the same amount on an awful Frosinone side. Do you want to waste 50+ million on him too?
Signing Zirkzee would be a huge mistake at any price, never mind an overly inflated one.
How many times have you watched Zirkzee?
Agree with @wcsg I would never tell my club to do it btw dovbyk has 40 m release clause and if the agent fees + extras is given would be around 49 M and THAT GUY HAD 36 GA LAST SEASON COMPARED TO ZIRKZEE WHO HAD 17 GA For whom some clowns are asking 57M .Never Zirkzee for that price even Football kush said he would prefer dovbyk