AC Milan are reportedly in talks to sign Olympique Lyonnais star Houssem Aouar, with the rumoured Newcastle United target expected to leave the French club for free next summer.
According to Foot Mercato, the reigning Serie A champions have begun initial talks with Aouar, who was close to leaving Lyon in the summer for Nottingham Forest before a deal collapsed. And since then, the midfielder has endured a tough season of irregular football.
The situation has changed in recent weeks following the arrival of new manager Laurent Blanc. And as a result, Milan are now keen to sign Aouar upon the expiration of his contract this summer. However, the Rossoneri face some strong competition in the form of Newcastle.
According to CalcioMercatoWeb, the Toon are keeping tabs on the 24-year-old maestro, with Newcastle weighing their odds over whether to make a move for the playmaker in the January window, with Eddie Howe keen to add an extra midfielder to his ranks.
Once lauded by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi for his abilities on the ball as per Football London, Newcastle and Milan could duke it out in January to see who will sign Aouar. And although the Italian giants want to bring in the midfielder next summer, this could actually play into their hands.
Indeed, Aouar joining Milan at the end of the season will likely mean a higher wage compared to if the playmaker signs for Newcastle in January. And because of this, the Rossoneri’s tactic of agreeing a deal ahead of the summer is quite a smart one from the Serie A champions.
Milan signing Aouar won’t be the end of the world for Newcastle
Aouar has long been linked with a move away from Lyon, with the French midfielder one of the best talents in Ligue 1 and a player who would suit many top teams around Europe. And whilst Newcastle have been liked with the 24-year-old for some time now, the Magpies should not worry if the maestro ends up signing for Milan.
After all, Newcastle have all the resources in the world to find a suitable alternative. Moreover, the need to sign a midfielder might now be smaller than other needs in the squad given how finely tuned Howe has got the squad playing heading into the 2022 FIFA World Cup break.
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