Leao, left-backs and latest on Brahim [Mercato Bonus]

With the season coming to an end, and the summer approaching, AC Milan have begun their work for the upcoming transfer window. Amid the disappointment this term, the Rossoneri fans are asking for some reinforcements and it remains to be seen if the club will obey.

Leao’s renewal

The biggest reinforcement of them all, perhaps, is the renewal of Rafael Leao. Milan have reached an agreement with the winger, as we were first to report back on Sunday, and the new contract will have a length of five years. The final details were sorted last night, as we also foresaw, and all that is missing is the signature and the announcement. The latter is likely next week.

There have been some whispers about Milan paying almost the entire €20.6m Sporting fine on behalf of Lille, but no confirmation has arrived from the club, nor the entourage of Leao. The Rossoneri have always made it clear that it doesn’t concern them, but we will keep you updated on the matter.

Brahim and his future

Diaz has been a rather important player for Milan in the second half of the season, but he’s still hurt by some inconsistency. Nevertheless, Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara want to keep the player but only on their conditions. This means that the negotiations with Real Madrid will start from scratch.

The clubs have a gentleman’s agreement for a €22m buy-out clause with a buy-back at €27m, but Milan deem the former figure too high for Diaz. They will sit down with Real Madrid and start over, as we have learned, with the hope of reaching an agreement for a permanent deal at €15m (could also be a loan with obligation to buy).

It may sound like a lowball offer, but optimism is actually filtering. The situation could change quickly though, as always with the mercato, but Diaz could end up staying at the club.

Left-back pursuit

It’s not exactly a secret that Milan have been probing the market for a left-back in the last few months. Not just in the last few months, but even since last summer. Fode Ballo-Toure hasn’t impressed and is destined to leave, and the likely destination appears to be France where he has some suitors.

Milan will not bank a lot from his sale, given the lack of playing time, but they could actually still make a capital gain (albeit a very small one). His value on the books is €2.7m right now, so anything above that is a capital gain. As said, Ballo-Toure has some admirers in France.

Among the targets Milan are probing for the position is Cremonese’s Emanuele Valeri. He fits the profile at the age of 24 and the fact that he’s Italian is a huge plus for the UEFA squad list. The latter is one of the key negatives with Ballo-Toure and that’s why an exit is so likely.

Valeri has caught the attention of several big clubs in Italy and things could get competitive especially if Cremonese were to get relegated. Another option that has been mentioned is the Primavera star Andrea Bozzolan, but it’s more likely that he will be sent out on loan to gain experience.

It goes without saying that the left-back pursuit will depend on the Champions League qualification. It’s not a position that Milan consider a top priority, since Theo Hernandez plays so many games anyway, but with a top-four finish the funds will be there and they will also have a strong reason to switch left-backs.