GREAT NEWS: Milan and Atalanta discuss Scalvini deal and how the trade might go.
Ac Milan is planning for the summer transfer market, and acquiring a center-back is one of their top goals. We can provide you with some details about a name that’s been targeted.
While there are still a few key weeks left in the current campaign that will influence how Milan fans perceive the 2023-24 season, management has no choice but to start planning for the future.
If you haven’t already, check out our most recent Substack piece, which uses solid facts and data to estimate what the budget should be for the summer market and why it is so volatile. Additionally, our Substack subscribers received early access to this news yesterday night.
Milan’s defense has been the most stressed section this season due to various injuries, causing Stefano Pioli’s team to face emergencies.
Simon Kjaer’s contract is up and he is expected to leave the club, while Pierre Kalulu and Malick Thiaw have also been linked with other clubs.
So, who will arrive to reinforce the rearguard? According to reports, the Rossoneri are now negotiating a swap with Atalanta.
It’s no secret that Geoffrey Moncada and Antonio D’Ottavio are looking at many centre-backs ahead of the summer transfer window and will keep their options open.
Some links are more tangible than others, and Alessandro Buongiorno has recently fallen into the former group. Giorgio Scalvini, who is being pursued by all of Italy’s major clubs, is another name that Milan supporters should be aware of.
Milan has indicated interest in the 20-year-old and may make an attempt this summer due to the ‘Charles De Ketelaere’ aspect, according to reports.
The Belgian playmaker has been a big success for the Bergamo side this summer, and his €22 million clause is set to be met. This figure is likely to climb as a result of bonuses, which is why an alternative solution may arise.
Scalvini might become a significant piece for Atalanta in the De Ketelaere negotiations, given Milan’s desire to buy a centre-back.
The Bergamo club is also aware that Scalvini wishes to move to a larger club and is therefore already looking for a replacement. The latter is significant, as Gian Piero Gasperini has stated that a replacement is required before any departure.
Funnily enough, La Dea went after Buongiorno last summer, presumably trying to get Scalvini’s succession in before he left, but the Torino man declined.
Initial discussions take happen.
In recent days, as we have learned, Milan held the first contact with Atalanta’s sporting director Tony D’Amico to discuss De Ketelaere’s redemption. Surprisingly, when the Scalvini idea was floated, the La Dea management expressed a willingness to evaluate such an operation.
While these would be separate deals on the balance sheet, Milan’s potential signing of Scalvini would effectively wipe the CDK transfer fee for Atalanta, and for a club that have always been attentive to their balance sheet this should not be underestimated.
Scalvini, given his young age and impressive performances in recent years, has a price tag of around €40-45m and the inclusion of De Ketelare could drop the price tag to €15-20m. These are ball-park figures, of course, but the important thing to know is that Milan are tempted by this solution.
Furthermore, the Rossoneri have a great relationship with Scalvini’s agent, Tullio Tinti, who also represents Matteo Gabbia. Gabbia returned from his loan spell at Villarreal in January and has quickly established himself as a crucial player.
The only question is the centre-back’s position, having mostly played in a three-man backline under Gasperini’s supervision. On the other hand, he is still extremely young (and gifted), so there is no reason to believe that this will be an issue in the future.
Moncada and D’Ottavio have so placed him high on their want list, with a fresh meeting scheduled at the end of the season to further study the possibility.
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