Saint-Etienne’s Denis Bouanga is a wanted man: Up to five clubs have been touted with an interest in him this summer, but now Atalanta seem to be leading the race.
All of Milan, Atalanta, and Roma have been linked with the Gabon international. Milan and Roma were the only Serie A outfits at first, along with the likes of Everton and Valencia. But now Atalanta have been touted with an interest, and they might just win this one.
Bouanga, 25, scored 10 goals in 26 Ligue 1 performances last season. The left-sided winger has since become a target of several European sides, but with no parties seemingly ready to table a bid, it leaves the door open for a potential new suitor.
Step forward, Atalanta. A newfound force in the Italian top-flight, they achieved a 3rd-place finish last season, scoring 98 goals along the way and booking their place in next season’s Champions League.
Their recent sale of Timothy Castagne to Leicester City, and the now permanent sale Gianluca Mancini to Roma has allowed Atalanta to sign the likes of Mario Palasic, Aleksey Miranchuk, and Simone Muratore. So they have room to bring in another signing, but do they need another midfielder?
Bouanga is reportedly available for less than 10M euros. It would be a snip for whoever might sign him this summer, and Atalanta wouldn’t say no to even more goalscorers in their side. Defensively they still have some issues but attacking-wise, they scored 22 more goals than Juventus last season, and only finished five points behind them in the table.
They could yet become genuine title contenders in Serie A, but so could either of Milan or Roma. Milan had a staggering restart to the last season and snatched themselves 6th-place, sitting behind Roma who lost their first three fixtures of the restart, before winning seven of their last eight.
Both have been loosely linked with a move for Bouanga, but both seemingly have their eyes on other signings first. Milan continue to push for Premier League duo Serge Aurier and Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Roma for Chris Smalling, and other defensive targets in Nehuen Perez and Fabien Centonze.
Neither then look like they’re in search of attacking additions, and so it leaves the door open for Atalanta to swoop in for the highly-rated, and fairly cheap Bouanga. The Saint-Etienne man often plays on the left of a front-three, but joining Atalanta he might have to be more versatile.
They scored a lot of goals last season but the majority came through the central areas. Robin Gosens chipped in with nine Serie A goals form left-wing back, and that’s the position that Bouanga might be expected to play at the club.
He could be used as an attacking back-up or deployed more centrally himself. Of all of Atalanta, Roma and Milan though, it’s the latter that could well need a player like Bouanga.
Milan have a big squad. They came undone by injuries at times though, notably to Samu Castillejo after the restart. Although their form wasn’t effected, Stefano Pioli was forced to play one or two out of position, and so Bouanga could become a useful back-up or even a starter at the San Siro.
Expect the Gabon international to leave Saint-Etienne this month. Rumors surrounding him have been stale for a while but now with Atalanta joining the race, it could spark a bidding war. But with both Milan and Roma pursuing other deals, Atalanta look as though they have an edge in the race for Bouanga.