A pair of Leicester City targets could be on their way to Italy with Florian Thauvin and Otavio high on AC Milan’s summer wish list, according to reports.
With revenues taking a tumble across Europe, the chance to sign two highly talented attackers without spending a penny in transfer fees feels like an opportunity not be missed.
World Cup winner Thauvin is out of contract at crisis-hit Marseille.
And the events of the past few weeks – from a disastrous run of results to Andre Villas-Boas’ furious resignation after a shocking attack on the training ground by the club’s ultras – will have done little to suggest the winger’s future should lie at the Stade Velodrome.
Brendan Rodgers has specifically requested a move for the one-time Newcastle United misfit, according to Calciomercato.
But talks are ongoing between Thauvin and Milan ahead of a bargain summer switch to the Serie A leaders.
The France international dreams of strutting his stuff on the hallowed San Siro turf and would gladly accept a £50,000-a-week contract at the Rossoneri (TMW).
“His contract is ending so, from an economic point of view, he’s very interesting,” technical director Paolo Maldini tells BeIN Sports of a man who has produced seven goals and nine assists for Marseille this season.
“He’s not the type of player we bought in recent years because he is a bit old but we think the solution is mixing players with experience with younger players. For sure, he’s a player we must follow.”
According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan will also step up their interest in Porto’s Otavio, especially if Real Madrid decide to take Brahim Diaz back to the Bernabau.
A tenacious and technically gifted playmaker who accumulated even more yellow cards (16) than he did assists (15) as Porto won the league last season, Otavio is also on Leicester’s radar (TMW).
Porto are desperate to keep the Brazilian at the Estadio do Dragao and will do everything in their power to tie him down to a new deal.
And, according to A Bola, Otavio is willing to consider all options available to him – so long as he, like Thauvin, ends up with £50k a week in his back pocket.
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