Luca Bianchin, journalist, expressed himself this way in La Gazzetta dello Sport regarding the negotiations for Granit Xhaka:
"Granit Xhaka is further away from Milan now, and at the moment, the chances of the Swiss midfielder from Leverkusen arriving in Milan are low. Xhaka, as has always been known, represents a break from Milan’s usual strategy, which in recent years has consistently focused on young players with room for growth and modest wages. Xhaka offers other qualities: he has a strong personality and is very effective both on and off the ball, but he is 32 years old and would still represent a significant expense in terms of transfer fee and salary. The key question was whether Milan would make an exception for him, considering that Granit has everything it takes to be a pillar of a team in transition, searching for new leaders."
Bianchin continued to comment on Milan's transfer market:
"That exception, for now, is not on the table. Milan has already reached a handshake agreement with Luka Modric, who is not yet an official signing but reached an agreement some time ago with Igli Tare. If everything goes according to plan, a photo of him in a Milan shirt will appear on social media at the end of his Club World Cup experience with Real Madrid. He will be the experienced player entrusted with the keys to Milan’s midfield. The rest of the department will include Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Youssouf Fofana, the two players confirmed from last season, along with some Under-25s. Samuele Ricci from Torino is close, and another signing may arrive from Spain."
