Aston Villa could miss out on Mohamed Simakan with the Strasbourg defender closing in on a move to Serie A leaders AC Milan, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rossoneri legend Paolo Maldini might have been a great defender in his day but he is turning out to be a rather impressive technical director too.
Maldini has led a revolution at the San Siro with a throng of exciting, fresh-faced talents arriving on his watch and taking Serie A by storm.
20-year-old Simakan ticks a lot of boxes for a Milan side determined to make the Giuseppe Meazza home to some of Europe’s most promising youngsters.
“We spoke with Simakan’s agents in the last few months and also the player himself,” Maldini told Telefoot in November.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan are stepping up their interest in the Marseille-born defender. Leo Duarte or Mateo Musacchio are expected to leave in January, meaning the Rossoneri are looking for a replacement, and there appears to have been a breakthrough in negotiations over recent weeks.
Milan made a £13 million bid earlier in the year but they will need to offer closer to £20 million to seal a deal (Le10 Sport).
Renewed interest from the Italian giants will come as no surprise to Simakan’s agent, Francesco di Frisco, but it remains to be seen whether Aston Villa, Lyon or Dortmund make offers of their own between now and February 1.
“There were many teams on Simakan – Lyon, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund,” Di Frisco explained to Calciomercato.
“I think these clubs, including AC Milan, will try to push again (in January). The boy has picked up where he left off, showing his qualities, and it is possible his admirers will also increase.”
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