AC Milan have now joined Newcastle United in eying Brighton & Hove Albion star Leandro Trossard. He is an option to replace Rafael Leao as Tottenham Hotspur target his transfer.
That is according to CalcioMercatoWeb, which reports the Rossoneri are busy establishing plans for their 2023 transfer activity. A host of players are approaching the end or the final year of their contracts at San Siro. So, chiefs at the Serie A side are loath to be unprepared.
Leao falls into the camp of AC Milan players whose terms will lapse in 2024 as talks over a new contract continue. But those negotiations are proving to be a complicated exercise as his importance grows. The 23-year-old has hit eight goals and eight assists so far this term.
AC Milan, therefore, are starting to explore possible replacements for Leao and appreciate what Trossard offers Brighton. The Belgian has scored seven goals and laid on three assists in 16 Premier League games this season. Leao has seven goals from 15 Serie A matches.
The Rossoneri also note that Trossard’s contract at the Amex Stadium is due to expire this summer. But the Seagulls have an option to extend his deal by a further year. Yet that may not stop AC Milan from swooping, especially if Leao were to leave San Siro in the summer.
AC Milan could deal Newcastle a blow and help Tottenham with Trossard’s transfer
AC Milan believe Brighton would not demand an exorbitant price to sell Trossard given his contractual situation. So, San Siro chiefs will keep tabs on his situation on the English south coast. Any negative developments regarding Leao’s future can also heighten their interest.
Trossard replacing Leao at AC Milan would likely frustrate Newcastle as the Toon are also interested in his transfer from Brighton. TEAMtalk reports the Toon’s sporting director Dan Ashworth is desperate to return to the Amex and raid his former team for the 28-year-old.
It also cites Brighton’s desire to trigger the one-year extension in Trossard’s contract. But Chelsea are likewise interested in the 24-cap star – who Rio Ferdinand has called ‘unreal’. 90min also notes Newcastle could make Brighton a bid for Trossard’s transfer in January.
Yet while frustrating for Newcastle, Trossard moving to AC Milan could delight Tottenham as they are interested in Leao’s transfer. Calciomercato.it reports Spurs are monitoring his contract negotiations with the Rossoneri. Yet they are not the only team keen on a move.
Reports by 90min which cite Leao has rejected AC Milan’s first official contract offer note Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is driving the Stamford Bridge natives’ pursuit of the Portugal forward. He is an ‘enormous fan’ of the 23-year-old who left LOSC Lille for £32m in 2019.
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