For most of Europe, the transfer window will slam shut on February 1.
AC Milan, however, appear to have bowed out early, shutting the San Siro doors after a busy week in which Mario Mandzukic, Soualiho Meite and Fikayo Tomori arrived to bolster Stefano Pioli’s Scudetto-chasing squad.
The Rossoneri continue to be linked with Barcelona’s dust-gathering left-back Junior Firpo. But, speaking to Sky, Milan director Ricky Massara pretty much ruled out making the former Spain U21 international their fourth and final signing of the month (Football Italia).
“I think, for now, the (time to bring in) incomings in this transfer window has been terminated. We’ll see over the next 10 days if there are any other opportunities, but realistically, we’re done now,” Massara said when asked about Firpo.
Of course, this does not mean the former Real Betis flyer is destined to spend the next five months or so stuck on the sidelines in Catalonia.
West Ham are also big fans of Firpo.
And, according to ESPN, they were willing to do something Milan weren’t in their pursuit of the £18 million full-back – buy him outright, rather than prioritise a short-term loan deal.
Given that Barcelona have spent most of the COVID-era desperately attempting to hawk their wares on cut-price fees – even allowing Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic to leave for free – it is not hard to imagine the La Liga giants sitting by the phone, waiting for West Ham to call.
With Milan now out of the picture, this is no longer a complex love triangle. If West Ham want him, there won’t be much wooing required.
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