Milan are inching closer to Charles De Ketelaere with their latest €30M offer, but Bruges coach Carl Hoefkens prefers that he stays put at the club.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 28: Charles De Ketelaere of Club Brugge on the ball during the UEFA Champions League group A match between RB Leipzig and Club Brugge KV at Red Bull Arena on September 28, 2021 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Milan Could Soon Initiate Talks for Belgian Prodigy

Belgian starlet Charles De Ketelaere has long been linked with a transfer to Italian champions Milan, and the Rossoneri could very well initiate a move in the coming weeks. The club is interested in investing in young players and the highly-rated Club Brugge forward sits atop their wishlist, along with his teammate Noa Lang.

Having scouted De Ketelaere for the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign, where he registered astonishing numbers in the Belgian Pro League – 18 goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances, punching in more than 4,000 minutes of game time – the Milan management is heavily impressed with his development and sees him as a perfect addition to the squad.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Scudetto winners will soon begin negotiations with the Belgian giants, keeping in mind the burgeoning interest from other top clubs such as Leicester City. A valuation of €30-40M will lure Brugge’s attention, but the Rossoneri need to act fast in the summer transfer market.

Our Take on Milan Pursuing De Ketaleare

One of the reasons why Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara have long tracked the youngster is because of his ability to don various roles in the final third – from a proper trequartista to even as a main striker. De Ketelaere is a unique talent who would undoubtedly boost their firepower – something Milan desperately need if they task themselves with retaining the Scudetto title in 2022/23. However, they will have to make early decisions in order to avoid competition from other big guns.