Milan are not the only ones pursuing Kaio Jorge. Benfica are in talks with Santos to purchase the 19-year-old striker, while Juventus are still squarely in the race. The Rossoneri would be in the lead if the player waited until the end of his deal to move. However, the Brazilian club is trying to monetize his departure in this window.
Their president Andres Rueda told GE: “We received an offer, and we are negotiating. We wanted to extend his contract for five more years, but now we are looking to find the best possible outcome for him and the team. His family is on the same page since they think it would be wrong if he left Santos without any compensation.” The 19-year-old striker can technically already sign for a new team, joining on a free in January.
According to Calciomercato.com and Alfredo Pedullà, the chairman is referring to Benfica and hopes to drum up a bidding war. However, the Italian sides want to limit the investment considering the situation. Between the fee to Santos and the commissions, they are willing to spend at most €5/6M. The affair is likely to drag on for a while.
While the Rossoneri were the clear frontrunners last week, Juventus have made a serious move too. They have placed a bid and are nearing an agreement with Santos, La Stampa reports. However, given the complexity of the situation, it may not be sufficient to seal the deal. Instead, Milan are constantly in touch with his agents. Bayer Leverkusen are also after the striker, Nicolò Schira informs.