Eric Bailly has leapfrogged the other candidates for the Milan defense, but the talks with Manchester United have gotten off on the wrong foot. The two sides were in contact yesterday, but there were no substantial steps forwards, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The Rossoneri want to do the deal only on loan without committing to buying him out. Instead, the Red Devils wish to cash in as much as possible. The Ivorian international has two more years on his contract. They acquired him for €40M from Villarreal in 2016.
The positions of Milan and Manchester United stiffened up after the recent discussions. The Serie A side likes the player, but not as much as other center-backs. At this stage, they do not plan to change their offer. They threatened to move on, but it could be simply a bargaining strategy.
The second player on the shortlist is now Abdou Diallo. Similarly to Manchester United, PSG want to sell outright, while Milan have a different formula in mind. The French club put €25M price tag on the defender. West Ham are said to be in the running as well. They spent €32M to sign him from Borussia Dortmund and are not in the mood for discounts.
Coach Stefano Pioli has been satisfied with Matteo Gabbia’s recent performances. The front office will continue to pursue the foreign options for a while. However, they could give up the chase if they could not strike a deal on their terms given the in-house fallback plan.