Milan have stepped up their interest in wantaway Lazio playmaker Luis Alberto, offering Rafael Leao to the Rome outfit in a like-for-like swap deal. After turning up late for the Biancocelesti pre-season retreat, the Spaniard’s future at the Stadio Olimpico is up in the air (via MilanLive).
Maurizio Sarri has yet to deliver a final verdict on the player, who seems to be pushing for a summer exit. Alberto is reportedly unhappy at Lazio and wants to secure a high-profile move in the ongoing transfer window, with Milan at the front of the queue.
The Rossoneri are desperate to find a suitable replacement for Hakan Calhanoglu, who turned his back on the team to link up with arch-rivals Inter earlier in the summer. Though there are several candidates to replace the Turkish playmaker, Alberto appears to be the one preferred by Paolo Maldini.
Lazio’s desire to keep hold of the 28-year-old could throw a spanner in the works as the Biancocelesti supremo Claudio Lotito insists on a staggering €45million asking price. However, Alberto’s contract in Rome is due to expire in 2025, which puts Lazio in a strong bargaining position ahead of potential negotiations.
Milan would like to drive the price down and have already offered Leao in return. The Rossoneri value their highly-rated youngster at a similar price to Alberto’s and believe the Portuguese forward could help them close the deal with Lazio. But Lotito wants financial compensation or the inclusion of Alexis Saelemaekers in negotiations.
It’s hard to expect that Milan would agree on Lotito’s terms as their hopes of landing Alberto continue to hinge on the player’s will. The seven-time European Cup winners would be ready to launch a new assault if the Spaniard puts enough pressure on Lazio to let him leave.