A signing that locks down the defence or, at the very least, gives Massimiliano Allegri the chance to manage his resources and any potential difficulties in the best possible way. Milan are far from standing still in these final days of the winter transfer window. On the contrary, the club is working on several fronts in an effort to bring a top-level central defender to Milanello.
The latest Champions League matchday has provided important clues, but the three tracks leading to Nathan Aké, Mario Gila and Radu Drăgușin each point in different directions.
AC Milan not willing to let Nathan Aké leave?
Nathan Aké has emerged in recent hours as one of the most appreciated profiles, both by the technical staff and by the ownership. Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman would like him to play more, and the player’s entourage have opened the door to a move to Milan. The issue, however, is that Manchester City are not currently willing to sanction the Dutchman’s departure. The club are set to hold an internal transfer meeting today with Guardiola, but for now they have no intention of letting go of the 1995-born defender.
Gila to AC Milan in June?
Direct contacts between Claudio Lotito and Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani aimed at unblocking the deal for Mario Gila have not been successful. For the moment, Milan remain in pole position for the Spanish centre-back, born in 2000 and currently at Lazio, but only with a view to bringing him to Milan in the summer, when he will officially enter the final year of his contract. At that point, the Biancocelesti will no longer be able to demand the €20 million fee they are asking for now.
Milan all in on Dragusin?
This is why the profile of Radu Drăgușin could strongly come back into contention in these hours. The defender returned in December from surgery on his cruciate ligament and is effectively almost out of Tottenham’s squad, having played just six minutes. The former Genoa and Juventus centre-back is being offered by his intermediaries to several European clubs and would prefer a return to Serie A to relaunch his career. Milan are among the clubs he has been proposed to, and if doubts over his physical condition are dispelled, he could represent the best option available to the Rossoneri’s transfer team in these final five days of negotiations.
