Sky: Hernandez wants to avoid free transfer; Reijnders exit seemingly imminent

Sky Italia’s Manuele Baiocchini has provided an update on all things AC Milan in a recent interview, discussing the situation of Theo Hernandez, Man City’s interest in Tijjani Reijnders and more. 

The mercato is heating up for Milan, following the appointments of Igli Tare and Max Allegri, and there could be some big movements very soon. Reijnders, for example, has ended up at the top of Man City’s wish list and they want to close a deal before the Club World Cup.

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In the meantime, the Rossoneri are also evaluating what to do with Theo Hernandez, whose contract will expire next summer. He has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia and by the sounds of it, the club could opt to cash in.

Speaking to MilanNews, Sky Italia’s Milan expert Manuele Baiocchini was asked about various topics, from Hernandez to Reijnders and the decisions to hire Tare-Allegri. Based on his words, the upcoming days could be decisive in understanding the direction.

What is the mercato situation at Milan?

“The situation is that Milan intend to sell, cash in, and then invest to give a team to Allegri that is more tailored to his football. He wants to use a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 with the Rossoneri.

“The meetings that took place today (yesterday, editor’s note), especially with Theo’s agent, was part of this. To understand the intentions well and find at a solution that can satisfy everyone. What does it mean? Theo, whose contract expires in 2026, would like a new one for 7-8 million: that’s a lot of money that Milan cannot and does not want to give him.

“He remains a player with an international profile: a very important offer has arrived from Arabia, but Theo wants to wait for some big teams in Europe. In this meeting between Quilon and Tare, some numbers were crunched for what could be a possible transfer. The common will is not to leave on a free transfer, which would be economic damage for Milan.”

Theo doesn’t seem very convinced by Saudi Arabia…

“The proposal came from Al Hilal, Milinkovic-Savic’s team. They are making a concrete, serious offer, but I think Theo wants to wait. We’re only at the beginning of the market and he has, in inverted commas, the upper hand.

“His contract expires in a year. Precisely for this reason, Milan, in this phase of the market, want to understand what the real interests could be even from some of the big names in European football. Maybe selling Theo could, eventually, avoid other sales of players that Milan want to keep.

“Not that they don’t want to keep Theo Hernandez, but he has such a difficult contractual situation and with such high demands that Milan are making assessments. No one can give you 7-8 million euros in Italy, so either you go to Arabia and get a lot more or there’s the Premier League, Real Madrid, Bayern: these are the teams that can afford it.”

The Reijnders situation…

“There is a very advanced situation with Manchester City. I don’t know if it’s done yet, but this afternoon the parties are very close. From what I know, Milan want an offer of 70 million, regardless of what the bonuses will be. 70 million to collect, a record capital gain, it would be the most expensive sale in the club’s history.

“The feeling is that a compromise can be found in this sense, but Manchester City haven’t reached that figure that fully satisfies Milan yet. Maybe they will get there tonight, tomorrow or in a week: the feeling is that they can do it.”

Do you think it’s right to sell him for 70 million, considering the figures that City usually invest?

“Since he is the most valuable piece on the Milan market, Milan will try to get the most. Maybe it won’t be 70, because they know that they can push the envelope even further, maybe it will be 75 or more. I know that for 70 million and up, Milan will consider selling Reijnders.

“On whether it is right or not to sell him… You know, when you are a winning team and are already at the top and you get an offer for a big player, you can also afford to keep him. A Milan outside of Europe, with a rebuild on the cards, is a different situation.”

Is Tare the right person for Milan? Can Allegri relaunch the team?

“I think Milan couldn’t have made better choices at this time. They couldn’t take any chances, so they took a 51-year-old director with 15-16 years of high-level experience. It’s true that Lazio aren’t the same as Milan in terms of prestige, but the management relationships are the same.

“He knows how to do it and how to work. And above all, he’s a man of the pitch. Milan needed someone to be present and listen to the players. Behind this gruff face that Tare has, there’s a man of values, who has a significant depth. I think the players can have respect for a person like that.

“And the same goes for Allegri. He has won a lot in his career. He also won at Milan and he knows the environment. Milan had to go with certainties and I think they have chosen well to ensure that next season won’t be the same,” he concluded.