Fallen Italian giants AC Milan are looking for additional options in their frontline with the likes of Gianluca Lapadula and Carlos Bacca weighing up moves away from San Siro. The Rossoneri bagged the services of Andre Silva from Porto earlier in the week, and they have now stepped up their interest in Nikola Kalinic.
The Croatian international currently has a €50m release clause on his contract, but La Viola would be willing to discuss a €35m fee with Milan, an exclusive from Calciomercato suggests. The Croatia international was tipped to join Chinese giants Tianjin Quanjian during the winter transfer window, but he decided against the potential transfer as he felt that he was not worth the €50m sum placed on the table.
A move to a fellow Serie A club would undoubtedly please Kalinic, but it is yet to be seen whether Milan will look to match the player’s valuation with the club’s hierarchy seeming holding out on a €30m sum for his proposed move.
As a result, the Rossoneri have Chelsea’s Diego Costa as the backup option as he could be available for a reduced fee following his public revelation over his club future. The Spain international openly revealed that he is no longer wanted under Antonio Conte after the Italian sent him a text message to look for a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Former club Atletico Madrid remain Costa’s preferred destination, but he may have to be loaned out for the first half of the season with their transfer ban unlikely to be overturned until January next year. Milan do have their restrictions with Costa as well with his €11m a year package likely to prove a stumbling block.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes is due to hold a meeting with the Rossoneri later this week to discuss a potential deal for Costa, who is desperate to play regular first-team football to maintain his Spanish national team spot.
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