Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have reportedly suffered a blow in their quest to sign AC Milan defensive midfielder Ismael Bennacer.
CMW reported in December 2022 that Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in signing Bennacer from defending Serie A champions Milan.
The report in the Italian news outlet claimed that the Gunners and Blues could bid €50 million (£44 million) for the 25-year-old.
Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with a move for Bennacer, who was on the books of Arsenal from 2015 until 2017 and has been under contract at Milan until the summer of 2024.
According to CalcioMercato, Liverpool are ‘carefully monitoring’ the former Arsenal prospect.
There has also been suggestion in the Italian media that the defensive midfielder may already have an offer from Liverpool.
However, it seems that Bennacer has decided to stay at AC Milan despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Well-known and well-respected journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported on Twitter that Milan and Bennacer have reached a full agreement over a new contract.
The new deal will be until June 2017, according to the Italian journalist, who has added that the Algeria international midfielder will put pen to paper in the coming years.
Bennacer’s new contract will reported have a release clause of €50 million (£44 million).
The one silver lining is that if Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur still want to sign him after his new deal, all they have to do is trigger the release clause.
That will give them the chance to at least speak to the midfielder.
Arsenal and Liverpool target Ismael Bennacer to sign new AC Milan contract
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