While Milan inquired about other midfielders, Renato Sanches is still the top candidate to replace Franck Kessié. The Ivorian international has already penned his contract to join Barcelona in a Bosman move. The Rossoneri have been after the Lille ace for months and have a clear lead over the competition. Juventus also expressed interest in the 24-year-old.
According to Calciomercato, directors Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara have reduced the gap between their offer and his personal requests. The contacts with his agent Jorge Mendes have been frequent and fruitful. He initially demanded €6M per year to sign, but the Rossoneri tend to be cautious with salaries. The management will have an in-person meeting with the representative soon. It could lead to a complete agreement.
Milan wish they will be able to strike a deal with Renato Sanches at around €4.5M wages. It is the same figure as Theo Hernandez, who extended his contract in recent months. Only Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes more on their roster. However, the striker will either retire or re-up at a much lower rate.
Considering their tight relationship with Lille, the fee will not be a problem. Milan would pay around €20M to purchase Renato Sanches. They would get a discount because he has just one more year left on his contract. Sven Botman is also set to join from Les Dogues in the summer. The potential Investcorp takeover will not affect their previous transfer market plans, also because the front office is likely to stay intact.