Milan misfit Fode Ballo-Toure could be on the verge of joining Premier League outfit Fulham after negotiations picked up momentum. As reported by Calcimercato, talks are in full swing after the Cottagers agreed to pay €4 million for the troubled left-back.
Ballo-Toure left Monaco for San Siro in 2021. Milan coughed out €5.4m to make the Senegalese defender Theo Hernandez’s backup option. Brought in to be a second-choice left-back, he only made 26 appearances for Stefano Pioli’s side.
Last season, Ballo-Toure registered just 650 minutes of action across 14 matches. Despite his relatively sparse playing time, the 26-year-old has failed to live up to the billing. Indeed, his performances have never convinced Milan to include him in their future projects.
In recent weeks, Basel’s Riccardo Calafiori has emerged as a target for Milan. But before making an approach for the Roma youth academy graduate, the Italians must remove Ballo-Toure from their payroll. After numerous expensive purchases, money is running thin.
Fulham could lend Milan a helping hand. They could be preparing for life after Antonee Robinson. The USMNT defender has generated plenty of interest in the Premier League. The Cottagers are unwilling to sell, but they have an obligation to prepare for every outcome.
Milan will suffer some capital loss on Ballo-Toure, but it’s a small price to pay to get rid of an underperforming player.
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |